Late monsoon: Torrent rains killed many across country
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 10:57:18 by Faisal Farooq
Heavy downpours triggered flash floods created widespread destruction across the country, breaking a 24-year rainfall record and leaving over 100 people dead in upper Sindh.
The torrential rains wrecked devastation in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur areas and leaving five districts of eastern Balochistan cut off from the rest of the country.
In Sindh, over 100 people reportedly lost their lives and scores of others sustained injuries as rains and flooding destroyed thousands of houses, rendering a large number of families homeless. Some of them have taken shelter at railway stations.
Jacobabad received the heaviest downpour of 305mm (over 12 inches), while Sukkur, Thull, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Khanpur Mahar, Ghotki, Daharki, Mirpur Mathelo, Rohri, Ali Wahan and Shikarpur received five to 282 millimetres of rain.
Widespread damage to standing crops and agricultural land and residential settlements in rural areas was reported from seven districts of the province.
Flooding also hit urban areas, bringing life to a standstill and submerging roads and streets in all cities and towns of upper Sindh.
Senior Advisor Punjab Government Sardar Zulfliqar Khosa while talking to the media said that the two districts severely damaged in the recent flooding.
He observed, “Wadoor torrent (a torrent that comes from the hills and into the river) hit DG Khan for the first time in history, and has devastated the whole city. The length of the torrent is roughly around 45 miles while it is around 15 miles wide. It has inundated a vast area while displacing around 0.7 million people in the area”.
According to the advisor, the torrent, which flows adjacent to the nuclear installation in D G Khan, was diverted overnight by the concerned authorities towards the city.
However, the media reports claimed that the torrents entered the facility and inundated a vast area of the installation despite this extreme measure.
An official while speaking to the media said that the city is protected by three barriers: local bunds, the D G Khan Canal and the railway line, an official said.
He further said that the unexpected water flow forced officials at the nuclear facility to direct the local administration to allow the breaching of the D G Khan Canal and the railway lines in order to reduce water pressure on the side of the nuclear installations.
Tags: Balochistan, DG Khan, Flooding, Ghotki, Heavy Downpours, Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Khanpur Mahar, punjab, Rajanpur, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, Sindh, sukkur, ThullShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=32427
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on Sep 11 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Society.
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It is sad to note about devastation caused by torrent rains but one thing I want to point it out that affected provinces i.e. Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were not fully geared up to face such worst scenraios. Was a joint contigency plan prepared by three provinces prior to on set of monsoon? I suggested some measures before onset of monsoon but all in vain .