People await help as floodwater recedes

Published July 28, 2007

DADU, July 27: Floodwater started to recede on the western side of the dyke and between the dyke and the Main Nara Valley drain in Dadu district on Friday. The water has receded to the zero point in Faridabad, Mado, Gozo, Main Naseer Mohammad Kalhoro, Kamal Khan in Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar talukas.

Superintendent engineer, irrigation, Ghulam Haider Qureshi, told journalists that water level in Manchhar Lake was recorded at 112.85 feet RL while 6,500 cusecs water from the lake was being released into the Indus River to maintain the water level at the lake.

A woman resident of Girkan village of Mehar taluka said that her house had been collapsed and cattle and grains had been washed away and now her family had nothing to eat.

She said she went to different relief camps but did not get anything from there and added that she had minor children and it was very difficult to her to eke out a living.

A widow, Nazeeran Solangi, of village zero point said that her house had also collapsed due to the floods and her cattle had been washed away.

She said that she had received relief goods only once. MNA Rafique Jamali said that district government was not distributing relief goods among the poor.

Corps Commander lieutenant-general Ahsan Azhar Hayat and GOC Hyderabad major-general Abdul Aziz Tariq visited relief camp at village Qaim Jatoi.

Incharge flood relief camp lieutenant-colonel Ehsan and DCO Aijaz Mangi briefed the army officers.

GOC Hyderabad told Dawn that “we have started to receive double relief goods for Dadu district and the army teams will joint efforts of the local administration in provide relief goods to flood-hit people”.

Talking to Dawn, Major Sharif said that 10,000 people were treated by the army doctors in the flood affected areas.