The Guddu Barrage, currently passing a high flood, witnessed a marginal decline in the peak level of the ongoing deluge on Monday, even as evacuation from riverbed villages continued.
Located in Kashmore-Kandhkot district, Guddu is the first of the three barrages on the Indus River in Sindh. At 6am Monday, it recorded 635,759 cusecs upstream, but the flow dropped by more than 11,000 cusecs in the next six hours, settling at 624,456 cusecs and remaining unchanged till the evening. By comparison, 612,269 cusecs were recorded by Sunday evening.
In contrast, Sukkur Barrage saw a steady build-up, with authorities recording 560,890 cusecs by 6pm on Monday – an increase of about 72,000 cusecs in 24 hours. Kotri Barrage also reported a rise, reaching 284,325 cusecs Monday evening, though it remained in low flood.
So far, no reports of breaches or overtopping of river embankments have been received from any part of Sindh. Irrigation officials said only riverine settlements and agricultural lands have been inundated.
Meanwhile, floodwaters entered Oil and Gas Development Company Limited’s (OGDCL) gas field in Qadirpur, Ghotki district, which borders Punjab.
Company officials confirmed that drilling operations at 10 wells were suspended after they were affected by water. Restoration work will begin once water levels recede, they added.
