MIANWALI, Aug 9 People of Kalabagh, Mari, Kukranwala and kacha area on both sides of the Indus from Jinnah Barrage to Chashma had a sleepless night.

An alert message was conveyed in areas which had already been inundated a few days ago. At many places announcements were made through mosques to move towards safer places in view of the expected flood.

Floodwater entered Madoranwala and Wattakhel in southern parts of Mianwali City on Monday. The people of Ballokhel had a restless night on Sunday and succeeded to plug the spur which was breached a few days ago, inundating a vast area of Ballokhel Mohallah.

Engineers of the irrigation department are red alert at the Jinnah Barrage and the breaches earlier made on right bank of the river to save the installation at the barrage have not been plugged in view of the expected rain followed by floodwater.

The flood control office on Monday reported increase in water discharge at Jinnah and Chashma barrages. In the morning 585,660 cusec discharge was recorded at Jinnah Barrage and 588,745 cusec in the evening. At Chashma, discharge in the morning was 699,822 cusec and 740,145 cusec in the evening.

On the other hand, relief activities are under way. Apart from the Punjab government, many philanthropists and NGOs are supplying relief goods to affected areas. However, tents supply is slow.

Talking to this correspondent, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf coordinator Saleem Gul Khan said Imran Khan had announced reconstruction of 100 houses at most devastated villages of Kukranwala and Purana Mari.

He said Mr Khan got a donation of 500 tents from South Africa. As many as 300 tents would be distributed among flood-ridden people at Mianwali and 200 at Swabi within a couple of days.