News
Monday, September 05, 2011
Heavy rains continue to play havoc in parts of Sindh* Death toll climbs to 85 g Over 10,000 livestock killed in Mirpurkhas, Umerkot
* Over 4 million affected by floods g Over 80% crops destroyed in three districts
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: As torrential rains continue to pound remote areas of interior Sindh, the death toll from the unrelenting deluge has mounted to 85.
The floods caused by the rains have affected over 4 million people, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Dr Zafar Qadir said on Sunday. At least nine people, including children and women, were killed in different rain-related incidents in Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and other areas of Sindh, within a week.
More than 10,000 domestic cattle, including cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, donkeys, horses, were killed by epidemic diseases in Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts while thousands of domestic cattle were reportedly killed in different districts of the province due to the continuous and heavy rainfall.
According to Dr Qadir, a total of 50 people were confirmed dead in lower districts of the province. He said that teams of NDMA visited the affected areas of Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Badin, Hyderabad and other districts, which are braving a new spell of heavy rain. He said that over 150,000 flood victims were living in relief camps. The areas of Benazirabad, Badin and Mir Pur Khas are the worst affected areas and 80 percent of crops there have been destroyed during the floods, he pointed out.
The NDMA chief said it could take one to two months for the floodwater to recede. The relief teams were facing difficulties in reaching the affected areas due to destruction of transport network, he said, adding that no assistance has been or will be sought from any country for the flood victims, he said.
Owing to dozens of breaches in the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD), the LBOD Sim Nullah, Puran Canal, Jhuddo taluka, Naukot, Hussain Bux Mari, Digri, Tando Jan Muhmmad, Sindhri, Samaro, Kunri and other towns and adjoining areas of these tehsils have been submerged in rainwater.
A large number of people have also been displaced. Large sections of roads connecting various parts of Sindh have been completely submerged in floodwater leaving scores of small cities and towns disconnected from the major cities.
Pakistan Army, Navy and Rangers personnel were busy in rescue work in the flood- and rain-affected areas of lower Sindh. There is a dire need of tents, food ration, blankets and medicines in the affected districts where 90 percent of displaced people are spending days under open sky.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Sunday that more rains were expected in Sindh, southern Punjab and eastern parts of Balochistan during next three days.
PMD Director General Arif Mehmood said that a new spell of rain and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls was expected in Bahawalpur division, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur districts which would penetrate Sukhur and Mirpurkhas during next three days. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk