Barrages in Sindh face record Indus surge

Source: Dawn

Date: 04 Aug, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Two major barrages in Sindh, Guddu and Sukkur, are expected to receive massive water flows, more than their capacity, and may need their embankments to be breached by authorities to minimise losses in the downstream region.

Informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that Guddu barrage — to be hit by exceptionally high floods on Wednesday — was designed for 1.2 million cusecs but its capacity had declined because of silting. They said the authorities expected about 1.05 million cusecs of water on Wednesday.

Likewise, the Sukkur barrage was designed in the mid-40s for 1.5 million cusecs but some of its gates were blocked during subsequent repairs. They said some parts of its structure would need to be breached to minimise damage.

In the process, however, some nearby villages could be submerged and hence population needed to be moved out. They said armed forces units had been asked to take precautionary measures.

The heavy floods would reach Sukkur barrage after four to five days.

 Meanwhile, the federal flood commission said on Tuesday that the Indus was flowing in ‘very high flood’ in the Chashma-Taunsa reach and in ‘high flood’ with falling trend at Kalabagh. It was also in low flood with rising trend at Guddu and in low flood with falling trend at Tarbela.

For more details: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/19-barrages-in-sindh-face-record-indus-surge-480-hh-07