THATTA, Aug 14 The euphoria expressed by drought-stricken population living along Indus river in Thatta district downstream Kotri barrage at the sight of water in an almost dried up river soon turned into fear after hearing about oncoming flood and government's insistence they evacuate to safe areas.

As per official statistics released by Thatta DCO Manzoor Ali Shaikh at a briefing to Sindh chief secretary the other day, more than 46,000 people mostly residing in kutcha area near two vulnerable embankments, have so far moved to safe places either voluntarily or under pressure.

The figure does not include an unspecified number of groups and families, shifting from nearby Sujawal, Belo and Chuhar Jamali towns to other urban areas.

Mostly underprivileged, illiterate, dependent on fishing and menial labour, residents of Thatta district suffer tremendous mental stress and fatigue from successive catastrophes, including breaches in Indus, cyclones and drought over a couple of years.

They fear if the most vulnerable points, Monarki and Surjani embankments would be bale to withstand the onslaught of mounting pressure and whether the onrushing 800,000 cusec water reported to arrive on Aug 15-17 would ultimately change the course of the Indus.

Their fears are not unfounded because Surjani embankment had developed breach in 1988 causing large scale devastation in the area. Water flow downstream Kotri was recorded at 637,857 cusec at that time.

In the following years, five spurs in T-shape and approved by a 42-member team were constructed at Sujrani at a cost of Rs35 million.

Chief Engineer (irrigation) Manzoor Ali Shaikh said the department was keeping an eye on the 75-mile long Kooka, Shah Bandar, Moolchand and Surjani embankments.

There were 26 vulnerable points, 16 on the left bank and 10 on the right of the Indus and technically, Monarki, located 10 to 12 miles away from the Surjani, was the most vulnerable point, he said.