River Sutlej remains in high flood as Met Office forecasts more rains

There is no respite in sight from floods at least in near future as the Met Office has forecast more monsoon showers until August 27 which are likely to exacerbate the situation in River Sutlej which has already wreaked havoc in many adjoining areas, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Water released by India into the river in recent days has made the matters worse.

The river is in high flood at Arifwala, Burewala, Chishtian, Minchanabad, Lodhran, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar where at several places it has burst its banks, flooding adjoining localities and crops and washing away roads consequently.

The Punjab government, on the other hand, has extended the summer vacations in the calamity-hit areas for an indefinite time period, while the evacuation of people continues.

50 more villages risk inundation in Arifwala

Arifwala, where already hundreds of homes have been washed away and crops grown over thousands of acres of land have been inundated, risks losing 50 more villages to swollen River Sutlej as the water level in the river continues to rise.   

On the other hand, Rescue 1122 and Pakistan Army personnel continue to shift stranded people to safe places.  

Over 100,000 shifted to safe places at Bahawalnagar

Meanwhile, exodus of people at an unprecedented level has been witnessed in Bahawalnagar where River Sutlej has washed away several embankments and inundated villages and crops.

So far over 100,000 people have been shifted to safe places.

River Sutlej bursts its banks at Chishtian

Hundreds of villages and hundreds of acres of agricultural land have been flooded at Chishtian as 90,000 cusecs of water in River Sutlej has left a trail of destruction behind.

Roads have also been washed away due to which people have been left stranded and completely cut off from their surrounding areas.  

Faced with food shortage, people have been forced to shift to safe areas on their own as nobody from the administration has so far come to their rescue.

Residents have complained that while their homes have been destroyed, cattle have been killed and they have lost all their belongings as well, the administration is acting like a mute spectator.

They have said that nobody, except Rescue 1122 personnel, has rescued them.

Flood victims awaiting help at Pakpattan

On the other hand, flood victims who are currently sheltered at relief camps at Pakpattan look up to the administration to provide them with food and medicines.

Two children of a family, taking shelter in these camps, are the patients of Thalassemia.  

Pakistan Army participates in relief and rescue operation

While local administrations and Rescue 1122 personnel are busy evacuating people from their homes, Pakistan Army is not lagging behind either as it has set up medical camps in the affected areas of Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur.

Not only patients are being provided free treatment at these camps but also medicines.    

Apart from that, army personnel are also distributing ration among the affected people.

They are also assisting local administrations in evacuating people from their homes and shifting them to safe places.

 

Reporters: Qasim Ali Sheikh, Shahzad Ahmad, Zahid Hussain Hashmi, Muhayyuddin