High flooding in River Chenab maroons dozens of villages

Staff ReportLAHORE: Floodwater released from India has caused high flooding in Pakistani Punjab’s Chenab River, inundating dozens of villages in Narowal, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Layyah and Chiniot areas, SAMAA reported.A day after heavy rains battered Punjab cities, the Flood Forecasting Division Lahore has warned of high to very high flood in River Chenab today as people evacuated their homes for safer places.Officials said Chenab is likely to attain very high flood level at Marala and high to very high flood level at Khanki and Qadirabad today.Officials said the Indus River at Kalal bagh and Giddu while the River Kabul at Nowshera are in a medium flood.The River Indus, Terbela‚ Taunsa and Sukkhur while the River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala have been flowing in a low flood since this morning.Meanwhile‚ the floodwater flooded Nullah Dek, Nullah Eik, Nullah Palkho and Nullah Bhed in Pasrur Tehsil of Sialkot in Punjab, inundating nearly 30 villages besides badly affecting standing crops on thousands of acres in the area.The district administration says the situation is under control.Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has directed all provincial governments to keep a strict watch on floods in different parts and take urgent rescue and relief measures.The PM has directed the NDMA to keep him informed on hourly basis about the flood situation.NDMA says so far 84‚272 people have been marooned by floods while standing crops over 354‚982 acres of land have been destroyed. Similarly‚ 1‚798 houses have been damaged partially and 2‚308 completely in the flash flooding. According to NDMA‚ ninety three persons have so far lost their lives and ninety four others sustained injuries in various parts of the country due to flash floods. -- SAMAA