Chenab, Ravi floods submerge crops

LAHORE:

Due to an increase in water levels in the Chenab and Ravi rivers, a flood situation has arisen in various areas of Punjab, where citizens and farmers are facing difficulties because of land erosion, breach of protective dykes and water entering settlements.

In the Kot Bela area of Alipur Chatta, dozens of houses are under threat due to rapid land erosion, while thousands of acres of agricultural land has been submerged with several feet of water accumulated in standing crops, causing heavy losses to farmers.

The protective dykes of Chenab river near the settlement of Bada Parara in Taranda Muhammad Panah has given way, after which floodwater has entered nearby settlements.

According to locals, crops, including sugarcane, moong, sesame and fodder, have been submerged, while the road links of several settlements have been cut off, forcing residents to migrate to safe places. The cemetery of Gurna Pathana was also affected by flood in the Chenab.

The local administration accelerated the construction of dykes and relief work with heavy machinery working continuously to divert the water.

According to authorities, an increase in the water level in Ravi river was recorded at Abdul Hakeem. The inflow was 53,530 cusecs and outflow 38,230.

The administration set up flood relief camps in Mal Fatiana, Kot Pathana, Adda Kalera, Tara, Haveli Mai Safooran, Kot Karam Shah and Dedhi.