High flood torrent likely to hit Chenab at Khanki

LAHORE: A massive flood torrent is expected at any time in River Chenab at Head Khanki today, Geo News reported Thursday. The flood-hit areas are facing crippling shortage of petroleum products and food in the flood-hit area. Also, the transporters are charging people with exorbitant fares. At present, River Indus is facing high flood tide at Taunsa. Administration set up at least 40 relief camps where at least 10,000 affectees have been given shelter and thousands of people are still waiting for help under open skies. The floodwater in Rajanpur’s worst affected areas of Jampur and Kot Mithan could not be drained out as yet and still both cities are water-locked under several feet of water. Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts are still cut off from the rest of the country for the fifth day now, as Indus Highway and Multan Road were washed away. The high tide, having rampaged Shah Jamal area of Muzaffargarh, is at five kilometers away from Khangarh at Sheikhpur, where it has breached local nullah on three points. Thousands of flood-thrashed people are waiting for government succor and evacuating to safer locations on self-help basis. The operation to rescue the flood-stranded people in Adda Baseeran is in progress. The River Chenab is witnessing tide after tide. But, according to Irrigation department, the biggest tide will pass through River Chenab at Head Khanki today, for which the district administration has taken up all necessary arrangements. The breach in Bhong protective embankment in Rahim Yar Khan tehsil of Sadiqabad, could not be plugged as yet, allowing the unleashed water to approach near National Highway on Sindh-Punjab border. The administration could not make any arrangements as yet to plug the embankment.