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Affectees worried as SIDA issues flood warning

Updated at: 0747 PST, Wednesday, September 07, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The situation has become worse in several districts, including Badin, Mirpurkhas and Khairpur, after heavy rains and the number of affected people keeps increasing. Sindh Irrigation Drainage Authority (SIDA) issued letters to DCOs of red alert warning for Badin, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar. According to DCO Abbas Baloch, over one million acres of farmland has been destroyed while several feet of floodwater has accumulated in Faiz Ganj, Nara, Umerkot and Kot DG that has triggered several diseases in the affected areas. The flood victims are suffering from malaria and gastro diseases while snake-biting incidents were also reported. The low-lying areas of Mirpurkhas are submerged in floodwater, including the railway subway bridge. Power supply has also been suspended in many areas of the city. A number of families have migrated from the flood-hit areas while thousands are still waiting for help. The Army has been summoned to Faiz Ganj. The water level in Indus river is rising, already inundating eight villages. The road connecting Obaro and Kashmore has been cut off to spill excess water. Our correspondent adds from Thatta: Sindh minister Sassui Palijo has said that the government would provide relief to the people affected by the heavy rains in the district. She was presiding over a meeting of officials concerned in Darbar Hall in DCO office here on Tuesday. The minister expressed annoyance over the poor performance of sanitation department and failure of the drainage system, which caused difficulties to the people. Meanwhile, activists of the Thatta Bachayo Tahreek staged a protest in front of the DCO office when the meeting was in progress. The protesters chanted slogans against loadshedding and worsening civic conditions in Thatta city and other towns of the district. The civic conditions are extremely deplorable in Thatta city following the recent rains. The main Shahi bazaar and almost all major roads are inundated with sewerage mixed rainwater. COMMENT: HOPE THE GOVERNMENT IS ALERT, SINCERE AND DEVOTED ENOUGH TO NEEDFUL......