Nearly half million people affected in Pakistan floods

ISLAMABAD: Close to half a million people have been affected by floods in Pakistan and authorities are bracing to save some major towns along the Chenab river, which has already left a trail of devastation.

Severe damage was caused by the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, which swelled after heavy monsoon rainfall last week.

Flood waters submerged homes after the Chenab river rose dramatically over the weekend, causing what has been described as a "superflood".

The showers which started last week continued through the weekend in Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The major damage has been done in Punjab.

More than 4,36,000 people have been affected in Punjab and 30,000 in PoK due to flooding.

Over 200 people were killed and more than 400 injured in floods and rain-related incidents.

Although the rains have stopped, the flood waters are likely to submerge hundreds of more villages. Pakistani authorities were bracing for worsening conditions as water levels in the Chenab was rising.

The immediate attention is on Trimmu headwork in Jhang district, where Jhelum river joins Chenab.

The two rivers are carrying more than 900,000 cusec water against the maximum 700,000 cusec capacity of Trimmu.

After Jhang, the central city of Multan is also on the flood list.

Dunya TV reported that only option to save the city is to create several breeches in the embankments of the river, which will flood several more villages and hamlets.

Chenab has left a trail of devastation in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha and Khushabad and Jhang districts.

The Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Pakistan Indus Water Commission (PIWC), Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) met yesterday to review coordination in rescue efforts.