Disaster 2010

A.G Peerzda

The deadliest weather related disaster of 2010 still continues to unfold in Pakistan since July 29, 2010, where heavy monsoon rains had triggered flooding that left over 2,000 people dead. Millions of homes, in thousands of villages and towns were destroyed.  According to reports, over 20 Million people were affected by this disaster - more than the 2004 Indonesia Tsunami, 2005 Pakistan Earthquake, and 2010 Haiti Earthquake combined. 

Infrastructure such as dams, power stations, roads, bridges, schools, health facilities, crops, agriculture wells, and drinking water hand pumps were severely damaged or destroyed. The losses caused by the unprecedented floods of August, 2010 in Sindh alone, were estimated to have been over Rs 600 million. More than 8.0 million persons became homeless and a large number were sheltered in government’s 3,500 relief camps in the province.
A substantial number of homeless persons are reported to be still in the relief camps. Since the assessment of losses caused by the flood was out of the purview of Federal Flood Commission therefore the Sindh government does not accept the statistics of this Commission.

Sindh was severely affected by the flood, with worst displacement, the province had ever seen in its history. The socio-economic infrastructure in 8 districts viz: Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jaccobabad, Shahdadkot, Larkana, Dadu, and Jam shoro on the right bank and Thatta, on the left bank of Indus, was severely affected. The major cause for this large scale devastation was the two breaches at Tori and Thatta Bunds.

It is claimed that heavy rainfall for five days in Koh-e-Suleman, Rojhan and Sukkur areas led to a sudden increase in the river water flows by over 100,000 cusecs which resulted in over topping and created a breach in the river embankment at Tori bund near Kandhkot. Simultaneously, the high tide phenomenon in Arabian Sea is also said to have resulted in hindering / blocking the river flows into the sea, raising pressure and causing breaches in the bunds in the hinterland in Thatta. According to the figures given by government spokesperson on the magnitude of disaster, more than 10 million people were affected, 200 deaths reported and over 1000 injured. Over 7274 villages, 43 towns, over 2.2 million acres of cropland were inundated, while over 300 rice and other mills, factories and petrol pumps were reported damaged.

Initial estimates had suggested a total loss in the province exceeding Rs. 446.88 billion with Rs. 122.1 billion in Agriculture sector on account of damage to crops in 3,000,000 tons of grains, cotton and sugar cane. Livestock sector suffered a loss of Rs 11.l4 billion on account of 200,000 animals; Irrigation, Rs 52 billion; and Rs 37.5 billion for the destruction of 8,000 km Roads.

Total loss to the Housing sector was Rs 134.3 billion because of damage to 1,021,000 houses; while in Health sector, the loss was estimated at Rs 2.60 billion, as 100 health centers have been damaged. Total loss to the Education on account of damage to 4,600 units was estimated at Rs 26.90, Rs 40 billion to Municipal Infrastructure as 43 towns have been affected with a loss of Rs 10 billion to government buildings.

The provincial government has tried its best to help and assist the affectees in rehabilitating them through financial as well as material assistance however, it did not prove to be sufficient and enough……….Much more needs to be done.El Nino and the Global Warming phenomenon should be taken into account………which says the cycle may continue for period not less than seven years……..! May is almost over. The next flood / aabkaliani season is not very far off. We must take some fool proof steps, immediate as well as long term to avoid such disasters or at least reduce their impact in future. .... more