Islamabad: More than 200,000 people have been hit by monsoon flooding in the interior of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, a national disaster management agency said yesterday.
The agency gave details about the situation to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani when he visited the affected areas and afterwards announced a series of measures to help the flood-hit rural populace.
Gilani was told that 100 villages had been flooded in Badin after a breach in a major salinity drain widened to 200 feet. A large number of people have been marooned at dry spots in Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan and Mirpur Khas areas after being surrounded by flood waters.
Loans
The agency told the prime minister that thousands of people had been rescued by the Pakistan Army and Navy.
Gilani announced that the Agricultural Bank would provide interest-free loans to flood victims of Tando Muhammad Khan and Badin and said 15,000 tents would be provided for the displaced families.
He said that the federal and provincial governments were making all efforts to help the affected villages.
The provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakthunkhwa have experienced heavy rainfall in recent weeks, leaving dozens of people dead. The rains caused loss of lives and crop and property damage.
