Terror of Thatta breaching (Daily Report August 26)

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF)

PFF Flood daily Report Aug 26

Terror of Thatta breaching
Breaching to Surjani embankment, Thatta district from an unexpected point has inundated wide area and residents were seen in panic leaving everything behind, shifting their families and livestock to safer places. The 20ft breaching to loop bund occurred at 3-00 am near Kot Alam town on Thursday, which widened to 200ft within three hours, inundated wide area instantly. The residents of Kot Alam and adjoining villages left their houses in fear and could not take valuables. It was terror like situation while the caravans of the displaced people were leaving their abodes, proceeding hurriedly towards safe places after hearing news of 20ft breach to the embankment near Kot Alam Town of Thatta district. The people could not guess immediately where to go, as their neighbourers were proceeding instead of waiting for vehicles. The worst scenarios were observed while people were carrying their elders in clothing to shift them. Being poor they could not hire vehicles neither they wanted to wait for the help and left their abodes empty handed.
Incapability of Area Legislators
Just after the breaching area legislators, including Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Paleejo reached the spot but later showed incapability, saying that they could not block it. She could not wait more, fearing the people may show their anger. The furious people were heard as saying it was the government’s incapability that even they could not get them informed about the situation, prior to this happening.
Politicising the situation
The Surjani and Munarki bunds located both the sides of the River Indus in Thatta district were already declared weaken, few days back, and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum rescue team after observations called the government to respond positively and strengthen the protective bunds. But irony was that nobody from the government paid heed over the problem and after breaching it created uncertainty for the local people, who started migration to other areas, mostly to Karachi in fear. The furious people displaced from the areas said that it was not natural breach and might have been given cuts to reduce the pressure of water from major cities, like Hyderabad. In this regard, local rival PPP and Sheerazi group legislators were accusing each other of breaching the bund.
Government’s Response
Earlier, the government authorities said that there was no chance of breaching both the sides of the bund in Thatta. The area people were standing alert at the declared points to plug the leakage in case of developing such a horrible situation. However, new phenomenon has compelled them to shift to safe places.
Mass Migration
Hundreds of families were traveling by foot with their belongings and livestock, preferring to shift to another side of the River, specially to Makli, Thatta city. The unimaginable traffic jam was witnessed at the Sujawal Bridge at the River, where hundreds of vehicles, crossing animals and pedestrians were struck up, causing worst traffic jam. There was no alternative for the vehicles and pedestrians to cross the bridge, which the migrating people thought is safe.
Affected Towns
The flood in Thatta has affected more than five lac people belonging to neighbouring towns, including Belo, Daro, Sujawal, Banu, Laiqpur and Mirpur Bathoro and villages. Looking the flood water direction they preferred to shift to Makli Hills, believing the flowing water may inundate the parts of Badin and Tando Mohammed Khan districts. The residents of Shah Bunder, Jati, Bulri Shah Karim, Choohar Jamali and Jhoke Sharif were also frightened, leaving their areas to safe places. It seemed the people have lost the trust from the government, believing that even they could not inform them about the intensity of the situation. The towns once flourishing now are looking ghost, where people were reluctant to stay.
Scenario at Makli
Hundreds of families gathered in the vicinity of the historical Makli Graveyard and neighbourhoods, looking for help, as many of them could not carry anything from their houses and hurriedly left the area to save their lives. It was attractive for the people to shift to Karachi, believing it might be the safest area for them in this situation. While those could not bear expenses of fares of vehicles stayed near Makli hills and living in the open.
Issue of high tides
The issue of high tides was also being considered the main cause of the breaching, as sea could not receive the River water. The effects of high tide will continue for the next three days. But PFF activists monitoring the situation pointed out that the embankments were in poor condition. The government functionaries never bothered to maintain the bunds since the last 15 years.
Transport Problem
The major problem for the people migrating hurriedly was unavailability of rented vehicles. Hundreds of families were traveling by foot to cover a long distance and pouring into Makli hills. PFF team while reached the area with volunteers and speed boats for the help observed that hundreds of people sitting outside their abodes, roundabouts and main roads in Belo, Daro, Mirpur Bathoro, Sujawal, Laiqpur were looking for rented vehicles to shift their families and belongings but there was no vehicle. There was panic everywhere in the areas, despite the fact that the flood water was not there yet.

PFF Response
PFF was the only first organization working on humanitarian basis responded timely and sent its teams to help the people through boats and vehicles. There were two teams; one for doing quick assessment and the other started rescue operation to save people stranded in water in the flooded area. Initially, PFF engaged six speed boats, which have capacity to carry 20 people each with volunteers. Since all the roads were blocked due to worst traffic jam, the PFF could not operate its vehicles immediately.
PFF Reaction
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), while approached by media, put forward the stand that an independent commission should be formed to investigate into the causes of recent breaching, which have caused wide displacement, inundating towns, villages and valuable crops. The Sindh province has suffered more than six billion rupees loss due to the devastating flood and it will take more cost and time for complete rehabilitation of the displaced people, PFF told the media persons.
PFF wants the government to probe it through the independent commission that “whose responsibility it was to safeguard the embankments, as it has displaced 3 million people in the entire province.”

Findings
? There was terror of flood compelling people to migrate to unseen destination
? There was no transport facility to shift the affected people to safe places
? Rumours panicked the wide area that even the people could not decide whether their areas arer being affected or not
? There were no camps in the area and people were living in the open
Immediate Need
? Safe shelter and food were immediate needs for the people
? Vehicles were required to bring the people to safe areas
? Tents could be enough ordinarily to protect the affected people from weather effects
? Those public and private organisations working on health should come forward, organize medical camps within camps to avoid any outbreak