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Flood in Sutlej inundates 20 villages, damages crops

Flood in Sutlej inundates 20 villages, damages crops
August 25, 2019
LAHORE (92 News) – Flood water of River Sutlej on Sunday inundated 20 villages and damaged crops and mud houses at several places of Kasur, Pakpattan and Arifwal. According to the details garnered, hundreds of acres of crops and many localities have been inundated due to low-level flood after breach in River Sutlej’s safety dyke near Minchinabad, after India released 66,000 cusecs of water. A low level flood in the River Sutlej inundated many villages in Pakpattan. Standing crops on thousands of acres came under flooding in the last couple of days. Rescue 1122, health department and Pakistan Army personnel started an evacuation operation. Seven flood camps have been set up in different localities such as public schools and rural health centres. Many residents were seen erecting embankment to save their crops. It is learnt more than 70 residents from villages along the River Sutlej have been evacuated with their belongings and shifted to safer places. In Kasur, the water quantum in River Sutlej at Ganda Singhwala (Kasur) has risen to 19 ft, and consequently several nearby villages and localities have been inundated. Moreover, a flood alert has been issued from the river near Uch Sharif. Another 71 localities have been submerged under water as a low-level flood has been reported at Head Sulemanki (Pakpattan). The flood water has destroyed several houses and standing crops stretching over hundreds of acres. Officials in the Punjab government had said the flow in Sutlej could be problematic for those settled in and round the riverbed. Nevertheless, all measures have been adopted to protect them. Hundreds of people were forced to migrate along with their goods and livestock. Pakistan Army and rescue teams are conducting operation to shift the trapped persons to safe places. Earlier, more villages inundated in Kasur and Okara districts as high flood in River Sutlej continued devastating properties, crops and fields on Thursday and early Friday. Army troops, Rescue 1122 and NDMA officials and police rescued nine people including women and children from Kasur and Okara areas. Flood-1 More than 300 villages also submerged in district Dadu after flood waves in Indus River. Corps Commander Lahore Lt Gen Majid Ahsaan visited flood-affected areas of Lahore, Kasur and Head Sulemanki and reviewed rescue operations being conducted by Pakistan Army. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army is fully assisting local administration in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas. India had discharged hundreds of thousands of cusecs of water in Rivers Sutlej and Chenab to flow to Pakistan without official intimation.