Lahore:
Another section of the Multan-Sukkur motorway (M-5) near Jalalpur Pirwala has been swept away by flooding water and elaborate disturbances in southern Punjab, already rolling from what officials describe as the worst flood since 1956.
According to the motorway police, the eastern trace of the highway collapsed after a rupture caused by the powerful stream of the Sutlej River on its way to Chenab. The western track had already been washed away earlier this week.
The motorway police and the National Highway Authority (NHA) staff remain on site with heavy machinery and place stone blocks in an attempt to slow down the progress of the water.
The M-5 is now closed for more than a week between Multan and Jhangra. Authorities have issued a diversion plan: Travelers leading from Multan to Sukkur, redirected from Shah Sham’s exchange to National Highway and can join the highway at UCH SHARIF. Vehicles coming from SUKKUR to Multan are redirected in reverse order. Officials emphasized that patrols and road users’ officers are deployed to guide motorists.
Meanwhile, Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Girector General Irfan Ali Kathia said the flood ranks as the most serious since 1956.
In a speech with the media, he noted that the control of excessive streams in Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi Rivers had overwhelmed defense at the same time. At Qadirabad -head works at Chenab exceeded the water volumes 1.05 million CUSSCS against a capacity of 900,000. Similar waves occurred at Sidhnai on Ravi and in parts of Sutlej, where the water level remained dangerously high for days.
Kathia explained that the long -lasting high waters of Chenab prevented influxes from Ravi and Sutlej from moving downstream, which forced backflow that caused violations of several headmates. He also pointed to construction on natural waterways as a major reason why the entire settlements were immersed. In southern Punjab, he said, many residents ignored early warnings, leaving the authorities under intense pressure to perform rescues at the last minute.
More than 4.7 million people in Punjab have been affected by the floods with 2.2 million evacuated to safer areas. About 300,000 mud houses and 83,000 brick houses were damaged over 27 districts.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a relief package for those affected. Families whose homes were partially damaged will receive RS500,000, while those who lost their houses completely will receive Rs. 1 million. Compensation for livestock ranges from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 500,000 per Animals, and farmers get paid Rs. 20,000 per Acre for broken crops.
