OBBARO: High flood is expected to hit Guddu Barrage on the Indus River within the next 24 hours and evacuations have been ordered from the nearby localities.
According to Assistant Commissioner Sohaib Elahi a water flow of more than 600,000 to 700,000 cusecs will pass through Guddu Barrage on the Indus River within the next 24 hours.
He said that a medium-level flood is currently prevailing at the barrage, due to which evacuation orders have been issued for residents of the katcha (riverine) areas.
According to the Assistant Commissioner, preparations have been completed to shift the affected people to safe locations, while all departments have been put on alert on the directives of the Sindh government.
Control rooms have been established to deal with the flood situation, and medical camps have also been set up along protective embankments for those evacuating from the katcha areas.
PRESIDENT ZARDARI’S ORDERS
President Asif Ali Zardari has directed all institutions to remain prepared in view of the expected heavy rains in Sindh. He stressed that arrangements for relocating people to safe areas must be completed.
The President said that provincial, district, and municipal bodies should stay alert to tackle possible flooding. He directed authorities to ensure advance preparations in urban, low-lying, and coastal areas, while keeping relief machinery and staff on standby at district and tehsil levels. He also emphasized close monitoring of water levels at Hub Dam and other reservoirs.
Light rain starts in Karachi, more rains in Punjab
Zardari added that media and local administration must play an active role in public awareness campaigns, urging citizens to take precautions and follow government advisories.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the rain system currently over India’s Gujarat and Rajasthan border could impact Sindh, Balochistan, and South Punjab.
The NDMA spokesperson said that these rains may continue intermittently until September 10, while urban flooding is also feared in parts of Sindh, Balochistan, and South Punjab.