950811

Lower Indus

in very high

flood at Guddu

KARACHI: Lower Indus is flowing at very high flood stage at Guddu with discharge of 812,000 cusec and will gradually fall at this station during the next 24 hours.

According to a Flood Situation Report issued here by Irrigation and Power Department on Friday, at Sukkur the river is flowing at very high flood stage with a discharge of 850,000 cusec.

It will fall during the next 24 hours.

At Kotri the river is flowing at high flood stage with a discharge of 641,000 cusec. It will further rise during the next 24 hours.

The river discharges at Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri recorded at 06.00 hours, are Guddu Barrage 812,000 cusec up-stream, 801,000 cusec down-stream, flowing in very high flood. Sukkur Barrage 850,000 cusec up-stream, 804,000 cusec down-stream, in very high flood. Kotri Barrage 641,000 cusec up-stream, 612,000 cusec down-stream also in very high flood.

Manchar Lake level recorded at 06.00 hours is 117.05 and is above danger level, it will further rise during the next 24 hours.

The River Jhelum is flowing at low flood at Rasul. The River Chenab is flowing at low flood at Marala, and Trimmu medium flood stage at Punjnad. The River Sutlej and Ravi are flowing at normal and high flood at Sulemanki and Sidhnai respectively.

The situation on both sides of river is under control and the front bund line is safe and intact. The officials of Irrigation and Power Department are making efforts round the clock to meet any eventuality. Most of the breaches in FP Bund and MNV drain have been plugged. The closing operations on remaining breaches are in progress.

COMPREHENSIVE

SCHEME

SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Abdullah Shah has said that a comprehensive scheme for strengthening the existing chain of protective bunds from Guddu to Kotri will be prepared, to ensure maximum prevention of losses in future and also for re-using the flood water for agricultural purposes.

In a brief chart with APP, the Sindh Chief Minister who had accompanied the prime minister on her visit to Naseerabad division (Balochistan) to assess the extent of flood losses, said that Larkana and Hyderabad divisions had been worst hit in the recent floods and as such a long term planning was needed to face such calamities in future.

The chief minister said Dadu and Badin had suffered most due to rains in lower Sindh, and similar situation had now emerged in Upper Sindh, especially in Larkana division.

He was of the view that prime minister's visit to these parts had infused a new life among the affected people and they were prepared to face the situation with extreme courage and valour.

He also deeply lauded the prime minister for her pledge of all out help of federal government in meeting the flood losses and rehabilitating the victims.

RAIN IN QUETTA

QUETTA: Quetta valley received light medium rains on Friday afternoon, which turned the hot weather into pleasant chill. Picnickers thronged the picnic spots in jubilation.

As a result of rains, drains started flowing on the roads turning them into small ponds. Flow of drain water caused problems for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Khuzdar on Thursday night. A 2-year baby was swept away in the rain water. The gushing water again damaged a bridge which was recently repaired to restore normal traffic between Quetta and Karachi.

Met Office has forecast cloudy weather with chances of rain for Quetta Valley and major parts of the province during the next 24 hours.

ZULFIQAR ALI MAGSI

Balochistan Chief Minister, Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi has hoped that Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's visit to the flood affected parts of Balochistan, specially of Naseerabad division a few days ago, would greatly help in rebuilding public's confidence and morale.

He further hoped that the Federal Government would provide adequate funds for the repair of the national highways in different parts of the province.

The Balochistan Chief Minister estimated that loss to economic infrastructure in Balochistan had crossed Rs one billion.

He lauded the spirit of the people of flood affected areas and was of the view that they had faced the situation courageously. He said that the provincial government had chalked out a plan to use the flood water in Jhal Magsi District, which erstwhile used to be drained out into Hamal and Manchar lakes and was thus wasted.-APP/PPI