Prepared to Manage Water Flows of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Per Second: Murad Shah
The Sindh province in Pakistan is preparing for a possible super flood, following a warning from Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah due to India's release of massive water into the Chenab River.
CM Shah has forewarned of the impending danger, stating that anything above 900,000 cusecs is classified as a super flood. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has predicted flows of 800,000 to 1.1 million cusecs at Guddu Barrage around September 5. The provincial government is prepared to handle flows ranging from 0.8 million to 1.1 million cusecs.
The Punjab cabinet has directed the Irrigation Department to open all canals to facilitate the smooth flow of excess water from the Chenab River. Districts have been instructed to remain alert and prepare contingency plans in case of flooding in Sindh. All commissioners, deputy commissioners, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) have been directed to stay fully prepared.
Special focus has been placed on the KK Bund to ensure its protection. The embankments, which were raised significantly after the 2010 floods, have been secured. Every quarter mile of embankments now has a watch camp (landi) with 16 staff members monitoring round-the-clock and trained to respond immediately.
Villagers and livestock owners have been briefed about the situation, and the Health Department has been placed on high alert. Sindh has made full preparations to face the looming challenge, with a focus on protecting human lives, livestock, and barrages.
Torrential rains are expected to lash Islamabad, Lahore, and other districts till Wednesday, according to the NDMA. CM Murad is personally monitoring the situation along with the chief secretary and provincial ministers.
Water from the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers converge at Panjnad before merging into the Indus at Kot Mithan. India's release of water may trigger 'exceptionally high floods' in Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab.
CM Murad has urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive climate change policy. He also highlighted the institutional legacy of disaster management, recalling the establishment of the Federal Flood Commission by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the 1973 and 1976 floods.
Provincial minister Muhammad Ali Malkani has been assigned to oversee the left bank of the Indus, while Riaz Shah Shirazi will supervise the right bank downstream of Kotri for field monitoring.
Today, we have the NDMA at the federal level and the PDMA at the provincial level, both working effectively to deal with natural disasters. The chief minister addressed a press conference at the New Sindh Secretariat, flanked by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah.
