Flood-hit victims baton charged Gilani orders relief to affectees, 100 villages inundated, 4 persons drowned

TANDO MOHAMMAD KHAN: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday visited the flood-hit areas of Badin and issued directives for immediate response to the flood-affected areas of Sindh and assured payment of compensation after the damage assessment.As soon as the Premier left the place the entire scene turned chaotic as small quntity of goods compelled the flood victims to start snatching away the relief goods. The police personnel present on the occasion had to baton charge the people to bring the situation under control.Some affectees sustained injuries while others had to run away empty handed in a bid to escape the baton charge.Those who had to go without any relief goods complained that despite sitting through the Prime Minister’s speech all they received was baton charge and not a single item of succour.Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani who was here on a day-long visit to assess the damages caused by heavy rains and flooding, directed the National Disaster Management Authority to provide tents, food, medicines and all other facilities to the displaced at the relief camps set up at different locations.He said 15,000 tents would be provided in the first phase to provide shelter to the people.Gilani also directed National Database and Registration Authority to provide Watan cards for the displaced people so as to help them meet their financial needs. He asked Farzana Raja, Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, to provide relief to the people under the programme.The prime minister who also distributed relief goods amongst the flood-affected people said the government would ensure swift relief for the masses.Gilani said he had seen the damages caused by the heavy rains and assured that the Federal Government was taking necessary measures to ensure that basic facilities are provided and their sufferings are mitigated.He said the flood-affected areas had been declared disaster hit areas and the Zarai Taraqiati Bank had also been asked to provide loans to the farming community.The prime minister said the Damage-Need Assessment would be conducted in the area and the government would compensate the people on the damages to their property, livestock and farms.The Prime Minister, accompanied by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Ministers Syed Khursheed Shah and Syed Naveed Qamar, had an aerial view of the vast areas affected by rains.He assured that the Federal and Provincial governments would extend all the assistance to them to mitigate their sufferings. Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister declared rain affected areas of Tando Mohammad Khan and others as calamity hit.At least four persons were dronwed in floodwater in a village and more than 100 villages were flooded in Badin when a breach developed in the Left Bank Outfall Drain Nullah on Monday.According to reports, due to overflowing and reverse flow in the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) there is fear of more breaches and more flooding. The breach widened to 200 feet in the biggest saline nullah of Asia. Flood water has inundated power grid station in Pangrio as well due to which power supply was suspended to the areas.The authorities concerned are yet to plug breaches that have flooded a vast area and washed away standing crops spread on hundreds of thousands acres of land.A large number of people are still stranded in the far-flung coastal villages of Badin district, with no road link to safer areas restored even after the days of heavy monsoon pour that played havoc with the area.So far, thousands of people have been rescued and shifted to relief camps by Pak army and Navy personnel. The camps set up by district administration lack basic facilities including food.Residents of Papangrio, Kariyo and Faro started shifting from the area due to the alarming situation while residents are facing threat of diseases due to insufficient arrangements at the governments flood relief camps.Meanwhile, water level has risen in Ameer Shah Nullah due to which panic has spread in the residents of the surrounding areas.