Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited Guddu Barrage today and reviewed the high-level flood situation. A flow of 627,908 cusecs is currently passing through the barrage. Accompanied by Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro and Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero, the Chief Minister received a detailed briefing on flood management measures.

Guddu Barrage, designed for a flow of 1.1 million cusecs, is currently experiencing significant water pressure, leading to increased monitoring. Tori Bund and KK Bund have been identified as potentially vulnerable points, and flood control operations are underway at the 18th mile of KK Bund. Precautionary measures have been taken in Kashmore and Shikarpur districts to control floodwater discharge.

Following the advisory issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Guddu Barrage area is prepared to handle super floods. Necessary resources, including machinery, boats, and flood-fighting equipment, have been deployed along the riverbanks. Emergency work is underway on the vulnerable section of KK Bund.

The World Bank-funded Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP) continues its rehabilitation work. This comprehensive project includes strengthening river management infrastructure in addition to replacing barrage and canal gates and operating mechanisms. Of the barrage’s 65 main gates and 25 canal gates, 30 main gates and all canal gates have been modernized. Furthermore, guide banks, marginal banks, spurs, and studs, both upstream and downstream, have been upgraded, and bund heights have been raised from 6 to 10 feet.

Continuous monitoring is ongoing at critical locations of bunds, spurs, and canals around Guddu Barrage. Protective bunds, including the Right and Left Marginal Bunds, RM Bund, and DP Feeder Bund, are present upstream and downstream. The barrage also features Right and Left Guide Banks, as well as Right Spurs, Left Spurs, T-Head, and J-Head Spurs. The barrage feeds the Rainee Canal, Ghotki Feeder, Begari Sindh Feeder, and Desert Pat Feeder, irrigating agricultural lands in Sindh. Key vulnerable points have been identified.