A medium-level flood in the Indus River wreaked havoc in various parts of Sindh as several embankments collapsed in Kandiaro and Manjhot, allowing gushing waters to inundate nearby villages and farmlands.  Floodwaters entered several settlements at a rapid pace, submerging large swathes of agricultural land. In Ghulam Nabi Brohi village, several feet of water accumulated, leaving the area cut off as road links were washed away.

Meanwhile, torrential rains worsened the situation in Obaro, where standing crops were destroyed. The damage to cotton harvests, which were ready for picking, caused losses worth millions to the farming community.  The calamity has left villagers struggling to protect their families and belongings, with urgent appeals for government intervention and relief.   

Several zamindari embankments in Manjath broke due to moderate floods in the Indus River, as a result of which water entered villages rapidly and crops were submerged in Kandyaro, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.    According to the report, several feet of water accumulated in the village of Ghulam Nabi Brohi, and communication roads were cut off.

Residents of more than five villages continued to migrate on their own, while some remain trapped in their homes.   Due to water entering villages, the belongings of the residents of the area were also submerged. The administration is still failing to evacuate the trapped people from the area.  On the other hand, even after the water level in the Sutlej River receded, the problems of the victims did not ease in Arifwala and Qubula. 

According to Provincial President Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, farmers of Arifwala and Qubula worried about the destruction of crops and are still waiting for government assistance. After massive damage to crops due to floods, farmers are in financial difficulties, savings washed away in the flood, and they cannot cultivate crops in the future.  The government should declare the area disaster-prone and provide financial support, Rizwan Iqbal, a farmer leader, said. Agricultural tubewell bills should be waived for affected household consumers, the farmer leaders demanded. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)