Pakistani's wait for a food distribution at a makeshift camp for flood victims in Sanghar on September 23, 2011. – AFP Photo

SANGHAR: The town of Sanghar affected by rains four week ago continues to be in distress.

Most roads have damaged and large parts are under knee-deep water. Most markets and schools remain closed.

The most distressful aspect of the situation is that people suffering from water-borne diseases can not find medicines and potable water.

Most residential areas of the city, including the Housing Society, Al-Mansoora colony, Royal City, Model Town, Shehanshah colony, Dhak Mohalla, Lander Mohalla, New Housing Society, Revenue colony, Talibul Moula colony, Irrigation colony, Civil Hospital colony, Depar colony and residents of DPO and DCO are under 3 to 4 feet of water.

There are reports of theft because 90 per cent of the people have abandoned their homes and moved to other places.

The offices of DCO, DPO, Nadra, Treasury, EDOs of education, health, revenue, finance, works and services, income tax and excise, degree colleges and schools have been submerged by rainwater.

An aerial view shows the flooded area of Sanghar on September 23, 2011. – AFP Photo

The Civil Hospital has been flooded completely and its emergency section and surgical, medical, orthopaedic, ENT and children wards lie closed.

Temporary arrangements have been made by some doctors who treat emergency cases outside the hospital premises.

Commercial areas, including Saeed Market, Sarafa Bazaar, Liaquat Market and mobile market are inaccessible because of stagnant rainwater and sewage.

M.A. Jinnah Road, the main business centre of the city, has also been severely affected.

The road linking Sanghar with Hyderabad and Nawabshah has been unusable since September 10. A two-kilometre portion of the Hyderabad road is under six to seven feet of water at Shah Baig Mari and vehicles have to use an alternate route to go to Hyderabad.

The town is facing acute shortage of items of everyday use because transport companies are avoiding to come to Sanghar.

Raza Khan, who runs a medical store, told this reporter that there was a shortage of life-saving drugs. He said most companies had stopped supplying all medicines. Power supply to several parts of the town remains suspended for several days. No Hesco official is there to address people’s complaints. Water contaminated with toxic waste is causing many diseases.

Officials of the district government, unable to drain out water, are sitting with their fingers crossed and no efforts to restore the road link are being made.