The death toll from the devastating floods soared to 1,162 on Wednesday as floodwaters from the north began to breach banks and affected more than a million people in Sindh’s Dadu district.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 1,941 people were injured while 36 others were killed during the past 24 hours.
Reports quoted Dadu Deputy Commissioner Syed Murtaza Ali as saying that 1.2 million people had been affected and displaced in the district.
“Water level is rising in the Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain in Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi talukas located at a distance of 8 km from Dadu city,” he said and added it was feared if the water level continued to rise, Dadu city would be severely impacted.
MPA Pir Mujeebul Haq, who was elected from Dadu, said the city was facing the threat of flood. “Machinery has been employed to prevent flood waters from entering the city,” he said.
MORE AID POURS IN
Meanwhile, the United States (US) announced $30 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan.
“We stand with Pakistan during this difficult time, and the US is proud to be the single largest humanitarian donor to Pakistan,” Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, told a daily news briefing on Tuesday.
“We are deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life and livelihoods throughout Pakistan,” he added.
USAID partners will use this fund to prioritise urgently needed support for food, nutrition, multi-purpose cash, safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene and shelter assistance, he said.
UNPRECEDENTED RAIN
Pakistan has received nearly 190 per cent more rain than the 30-year average in the quarter through August this year, totalling 390.7 millimetres (15.38 inches). Sindh was hardest hit, getting 466 per cent more rain than the 30-year average.
Flash floods surging out of northern mountains have swept away homes, businesses, infrastructure and crops. The government says 33 million people, or 15 per cent of the 220 million-strong nation, have been affected.
Colossal volumes of water are pouring into the Indus river, which flows down the middle of the country from its northern peaks to southern plains, bringing flooding along its length.
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