Pakistan rivers in spate

ISLAMABAD - Rivers in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces reached “exceptionally high” levels Thursday and may soon inundate low-lying areas, as the country grappled with its worst ever floods that have affected over 14 million people.

Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains have left over 1,600 people dead.

Rising water levels in the Indus and Chenab rivers may inundate four districts in Punjab and eight in Sindh, authorities said. The Indus was at a very high level at the Chashma barrage Wednesday evening, while the Taunsa and the Trimmu barrages on the Chenab also recorded high water levels, the Dawn reported.

“The worst is not over yet. The next 10 days will be very crucial because the second wave of floods is right now passing through Punjab and might impact the southern parts of the province,” Qamar-u-Zaman Chaudhry, head of the meteorological department, was quoted as saying by DPA.

The spokesman for UN’s humanitarian operations in Pakistan Thursday said flood recovery costs for the country’s agriculture sector could be worth billions of dollars.

“The devastation to crops is immense. I think it’s safe to say it will take some billions of dollars to recover. Even though we don’t have estimates yet, I am referring to livelihood for agriculture and farming to get back in shape,” Maurizio Giuliano was quoted as saying by Geo News.

The Federal Flood Commission said the “exceptionally high” water levels near Kotri would result in inundation of low-lying areas of Hyderabad and adjoining regions.

The Indus will also attain a very high level at Chashma and may inundate parts of Mianwali, Dera Ismail Khan, Bhakkar and Layyah, flood control authorities said.

The meteorological department said thunderstorms and rains were expected in upper regions of the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.