Mass exodus in Pak as floodwaters threaten new areas

KARACHI - Floodwater has submerged a town in Pakistan’s Sindh province, and threatens another being used by flood relief workers.

According to reports, Sujawal, a town of some 250,000 people, has been submerged while people battle to save the nearby city of Thatta.

“Almost all of 250,000 residents fled the town before the water rushed in,” The Daily Times quoted Hadi Baksh, a disaster management official, as saying.

“Authorities are building makeshift levees across the road connecting Sujawal and Thatta,” he added.

Another official, Anwarul Haq, said that authorities in Sujawal were trying to limit the flood damage, but the water level had risen up to dangerous levels.

He also said that many of the people who fled Sujawal and Thatta have headed to Makli necropolis.

“About half a million flood victims are camped out in Makli,” he said.

The ‘worst floods in Pakistan’s history, have so far claimed the lives of over 1600 people, and affected over 17 million. (ANI)