DADU: Floodwaters started developing pressure around ring embankments raised to protect Johi and Mehar towns from flooding on Thursday, prompting the citizens to rush to the dykes and strengthen them by dumping stones.

As soon as news about rise in the level of floodwaters around the embankment spread in the town, a large number of youth and women ran towards the dyke and started dump stones and other flood-fighting materials to reinforce it.

Johi town remain disconnected from other parts of the district at its 12km stretch of the road and Bhan-Johi road have been under floodwaters.

A local Pakistan Peoples Party leader said that volunteers were working at the embankment in six shifts during day and night.

MNV Drain breached The MNV Drain`s dyke near Dadu and Johi towns had been breached toreduce water pressure along the drain`s embankments, said Engineer Mahesh Kumar.

He said that water level in Manchhar Lake, which had dropped to 121 feet RL, rose again after cut in the drain`s dyke.

Frenetic efforts to save Mehar The town`s residents stepped up their frenetic efforts to raise ring embankment around Mehar to save the town from coming floodwaters.

Floodwaters from Balochistan have already flooded the towns of Budho, Mangwani, Shah Panjo, Fareedabad, Khan Jo goth, Qaim Jatoi, Charo and Kazi Arif.

Sattar Channo of Shahri Ittehad said that the residents of Mehar taluka had been lef t at the mercy of nature as they had no food to eat and no medicines to treat the ailing children.

K.N. Shah under water Floodwaters in Khairpur Nathan Shah have completely inundated grid station, police station, taluka hospital,girls high and boys schools, degree college, Jeejal mother hospital, food godowns with250,000 bags of wheat, populated areas of Ladho Gadehi, Loung Khoso, Gora Lakhiar, Reejhpur, Nathan Shah Mohalla, Jurial Shah, Shahbaz Colony, Madina Colony, Bughio Mohalla, Jokhio Mohalla, rural areas of Gozo and Mado.

Residents of Dadu rushed to MNV Drain embankment to monitor level of water over fears of inundation of the town.

Mohammad Ibrahim Magnejo, an irrigation department posted at LS bund, said that water levelin the Indus River had risen and ef forts were being made to cope with its consequences.

Pir Gambal Shah and Mohammad Bux Korai, social workers, said that Dadu had turned into a city of floodaf fected people who had taken shelter along all roads and in all government buildings and tent cities.

Rescue operation continues Dadu Deputy Commissioner Syed Murtaza Ali Shah said on Thursday that rescue operation for people stranded in floodwaters continued through boats and helicopters in different villages of Johi taluka with the help of Rangers, Pak Army and Navy personnel.

He said that situation was worse in entire Dadu district. After inundating K.N. Shah, floodwaters were now moving towards Mehar town, he said.