Rising Manchhar Lake threatens several towns

* Water level just two feet away from overflowing lake
* Several towns around lake, including Bhon and Jhingira, in danger

LAHORE: Water level in Manchhar Lake, located near Dadu, rose to an alarming 119-feet on Monday, threatening several towns, as well as the Sehwan Airport and the PARCO oil refinery.

As water continues to pour into the lake from a breached embankment, the country’s biggest fresh water lake is just only two feet away from overflowing its banks.

Officials said that several towns around the lake, including Bhon and Jhingira, were in danger of inundation, threatening an estimated 250,000 people.

A state of emergency has been declared at the lake and Irrigation Department officials have been deputed to inspect it. The floodwater coming from various canals has so far submerged at least 42 villages in Juhi tehsil and is now threatening Channi, Jhangara and Bajara cities. People of the affected areas are leaving their homes in large number.

“Our entire concentration is now on Dadu district as the water is just a few inches away from overtopping the Manchhar Lake, which could threaten many towns,” Additional Relief Commissioner Riaz Ahmed Soomro said.

Meanwhile, people raised a temporary protective embankment to save Mehar city from inundation. The water level in Khairpur Nathan Shah has also increased by 1.5 foot.

In Hyderabad, the district administration has imposed a ban on the use of water from Ural Wah Canal for drinking purposes after polluted water from Manchhar Lake mixed with it. The Jamshoro district coordination officer has said that water supply to Sehwan and nearby areas from the canal had been suspended, adding that water tanker service had been started in the area. daily times monitor/agencies

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