SEHWAN, Sindh: Water levels at Pakistan’s largest freshwater lake remain dangerously high despite efforts to release water and save nearby cities from further flooding.

Water from the lake inundated dozens of villages along the Indus Highway near the Sehwan Toll Plaza and Bobak-Sehwan link road.

Due to the increase in the water pressure in the lake, cracks started to appear at Zero Point even after the authorities made two cuts in the lake, as floodwater entered dozens of villages in Bobak.

Earlier, the embankment at Manchar Lake was breached at two points to lower the reservoir’s water level which remained dangerously high, posing a threat to adjoining areas.

The new cuts were made near the RD-50 and RD-52 points in Pakistan’s largest freshwater lake.

A cut had been administered at the lake at Bagh-e-Yousuf point to release the pressure of water.

The residents have started to relocate but still thousands have to be evacuated from smaller settlements submerged by the newly directed channel. Meanwhile, after the water pressure increased on the circular embankments of Mehar and Johi cities, people were busy filling sacks with soil to strengthen the embankments.

Much of Sindh and parts of Balochistan have become a vast landscape of water, with displaced locals huddled miserably on elevated roads, rail tracks and other high ground.

The officials hoped to prevent the lake from overflowing and flooding more populated cities and towns, including Sehwan, Dadu and Bhan Syedabad.

Flood victims living in Kandhkot and Sanghar’s tent settlements are worried about not getting basic facilities.

Record rains and floods devastated Sindh: Murtaza Wahab

Sindh government spokesperson and Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said that record rains and floods devastated Sindh including Karachi, adding that the provincial government would use the development funds for rehabilitation works.

“The government aims to complete the rehabilitation work within six weeks,” Wahab said while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday.

He said that the water level in Kotri and Sukkur barrage was continuously increasing.

The spokesperson said that 180,000 ration bags were distributed in 41 affected camps in Karachi.