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Multi-Sectoral Rapid Need Assessment Flood Emergency-District Jhang 10-Sep-2014

Countries
Pakistan
Sources
Muslim Aid
Publication date

A. Situational Overview and summary

The widespread devastations of ferocious floods are visible in district Jhang of Punjab. The system of life is totally paralyzed in the area where thousands of houses have been submerged in water. High flood has wreaked everything and almost 250 villages of 41 Union Councils1 of the district are adversely affected, dislocating thousands of people. Two main consecutive torrents each of 5,25000 and 8,50000 cusecs of flood water entered in district Jhang on 08th and 10th Sept, 2014 which swamped all the four tehsils of district including tehsil Jhang, tehsil 18-Hazari, Shorkot and A.P Sial. The district administration warranted the contingency arrangements for saving Trimmu Headworks (which is in fact the conjunction of river Jehlum and river Chanab), Jhang City, 18-Hazari city and Ahmedpur Sial. The discharging capacity of Trimmu Headworks is 6,45000 cusecs at maximum while upcoming flood was more than 8,50000 cusecs which was almost impossible for the district administration to control or manage, therefore the the Atharan Hazari (18) protective dyke was breached at three different cites which increased manifold the existing massive catastrophe of tehsil 18 Hazari because the flowing pressure of breached water was tremendous causing numerous houses into mud debris. Army troops were purposely deployed for mitigating any unforeseen situation, patrolling flood affected areas, shifting affectees to safer places through water boats and helicopters. Police, Rescue 1122 officials, Al-Khidmat foundation and Falah e insanyat played significant role in evacuating affectees i.e. rescue operation. District Jhang comprises of 4 Tehsils (Jhang, Atharan Hazari, Shorkot and A.P.Sial) comprising 85 Union Councils. Out of 85 UCs, the initial data collected of 41 affected UCs, consisting of total population of 1113062 as reported in [1]. The pie chart provides that 74% (827437) people are intensely flood affected whereas the rest of 26% (285625) is either safe or not directly affected. It entails that the overwhelming population with houses demolished; farms and commodities are spoiled. The magnitude of this flood disaster is ever greater in the history of Jhang. As per the recorded natural calamities in district Jhang, the floods of 1973 and that of 1992 is known to be most destructive; however this flood of Sep 2014 is found the worst of all, with countless measure of calamities.