The Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui, has hoped that the flood peak would pass through Sindh without causing any significant damage "but we should remain prepared for the worst and that there should be no complacency," he added.
He was addressing a news conference at Sindh Secretariat here on Tuesday along with the representatives of Pakistan Army and the Navy. Faruqui apprised the media of the arrangements that have been made for the evacuation of the people from the vulnerable areas as well as the relief and rescue works to meet any eventuality.
About the latest flood position, he said that at the Guddu Barrage on Tuesday morning the upstream flow was 356,000 cusecs and 346,000 cusecs downstream. According to him, the flow at this barrage would be up to 600,000 cusecs on Wednesday (today). This is expected to increase in the next two days.
He stated that according to earlier warnings, the first peak would be of up to 600,000 cusecs and later in the next two days it may range between 950,000 cusecs and 105,0000 cusecs. Faruqui said that according to informal technical assessment that has come to the fore Tuesday morning, there may be a drop of 100,000 cusecs because of a breach near Taunsa in the Punjab on Monday, but this was still to be confirmed.
According to him, it has also been assessed that there is no chance of any substantial increase in the flood water due to rains so far. He said the capacity of the Guddu Barrage is 1.25 million cusecs and that of Sukkur Barrage is 900,000 cusecs. The capacity of the Kotri Barrage is 850,000 cusecs.
Faruqui said that now 10 gates of the Sukkur Barrage are closed, but these gates can be opened immediately for discharge of water in case of need. About the co-ordination mechanism evolved at the provincial level, he stated that the PDMA is the focal agency for co-ordination and its round-the-clock control room is fully alert. There is also co-ordination with the armed forces and their support system is ready.
He said the Sindh government has 155 boats and 50 dewatering sets which have been put on the disposal of Pakistan Army. Faruqui said that for evacuation, there should be 100 percent evacuation of people from vulnerable low-lying areas.
Those living in the settled areas outside the protective bunds near river belt, must also be alert so that they should not be caught unaware. Faruqui said that the disaster management authority is working on the assumption that the protective bunds and the irrigation system would hold. If this does not happen then those living in regular settlements, would be required to be on high alert, he added. Faruqui said that till Monday up to 25 percent evacuation from the `Katcha' areas had been carried out and that the pace of this operation was being speeded up Tuesday.