Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has declared the provincial government “fully prepared” for a possible super flood, confirming that comprehensive arrangements are in place to safely manage a water flow exceeding 900,000 cusecs. The warning comes after the NDMA alerted that inflows at the Guddu Barrage, originating from India, could surge between 800,000 to a concerning 1.3 million cusecs. CM Shah assured that a strategy has been developed to effectively tackle all possible scenarios.
The largest flood surge from the Chenab and Jhelum rivers is currently receding at Trimmu Barrage and is expected to reach Panjnad in three days. The situation at Panjnad will provide critical data on the size of the flood wave anticipated at Guddu Barrage by September 6. The Chief Minister highlighted the technical robustness of Sindh’s barrages, stating they are capable of handling up to one million cusecs, with a historical precedent of safely managing 550,000 cusecs just last week.
Emphasizing that the absolute priority is to avoid loss of life and livestock, CM Shah detailed the evacuation preparedness. Although large-scale evacuations have not yet been initiated, rural areas in affected districts are on high alert. District administrations have clearly warned residents of low-lying villages to be ready to move at any time, with a estimated two-day window to execute safe evacuations if the water level becomes dangerous.
To ensure a swift response, the Sindh government has mobilized a fleet of boats for evacuation. This includes the government’s own resources, support provided by the Navy and Army, and the hiring of private boats. The Chief Minister concluded by assuring the public that the government is taking every possible step to protect the lives and property of the people in the face of this potential disaster.
