SUKKUR: With torrents continuing to rise in Punjab’s rivers, Sindh is preparing to cope with a potential super flood of 900,000 cusecs or more, with protection of lives, livestock, barrages and embankments declared the government’s foremost priority.
“The entire katcha (riverine) belt of Sindh is going to be inundated,” Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warned during visits to dykes and barrages in Sukkur and Larkana divisions on Sunday.
While expressing hope that the flood would not cross the 900,000-cusec mark, he recalled the 2010 super flood when the province had prepared for 650,000–700,000 cusecs at Guddu barrage but flows surged to 1.15 million cusecs, displacing millions, damaging tens of thousands of houses, crops and businesses, killing more than 400 people, wiping out livestock, and inflicting losses worth Rs373 billion.
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According to CM Shah, extensive mapping has been carried out to project likely displacement. Between Guddu and Sukkur barrages alone, 459,000 people would be affected if flows cross 900,000 cusecs.
If levels remain between 500,000–700,000 cusecs, around 130,941 people and 21,823 families could be hit. The number would rise by another 104,255 people and 17,376 families if flows reach 700,000–900,000 cusecs.
Earlier, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had estimated that 1.65 million people reside in Sindh’s katcha belt.
Relief camps and military support
The provincial government has planned 948 relief camps, though Shah said around 514 would likely be operational. Two Pakistan Navy teams are already stationed on both banks of the river, while more may be deployed. The chief minister added that army assistance would also be sought if required.
