PDMA braces for new spell of rains

Thunderstorms expected to hit north-eastern parts of Balochistan from Tuesday

QUETTA: The Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is preparing to deal with a new wave of torrential rains and gusty winds expected to hit the north-eastern parts of the province from Tuesday.

PDMA Director General Imran Zarkoon has directed district disaster management authorities to take all necessary measures to minimise the losses.

The PDMA has also informed deputy commissioners about the expected spell of thunderstorms.

The new weather system will affect Quetta, Kalat, Zhob, Naseerabad and Sibi from Tuesday.

The widespread heavy rains and gusty winds are likely to flood water channels in different districts of the province.

The PDMA has requested district administrations to take precautionary measures and urge citizens to avoid travelling during rainfall.

They were also asked to ensure attendance of staff and availability of machinery and other resources to take timely action in case of an emergency.

Experts believe that the extreme weather pattern in the country is being witnessed because of climate change.

According to government officials, the recent spell of heavy rains and flash floods killed around 49 people across the country.

Most of the deaths have been reported in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and eastern Punjab. At least 18 people were killed in K-P and 15 in Punjab. Eleven people died in Balochistan and five in Sindh.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the weather system had also damaged 117 houses across the country.

Most deaths occurred in roof collapse and electrocution incidents.

The rains accompanied by gusty winds uprooted many trees and knocked down electricity poles and signboards in several cities, causing injuries to citizens.

The country’s farm sector is also in a severe crisis after suffering heavy losses.

In Punjab alone, the weather system that has struck the country for the past few days has destroyed around 35,000 acres of wheat and corn crop that was ready for harvest, a provincial minister said on Thursday.



According to initial estimates, 200,000 tonnes of wheat crop has been affected in the province.

Balochistan has sought Rs10 billion from the federal government for the rehabilitation of people affected by the recent torrential rains and flash floods.

It has also approached the NDMA for food items for the victims.

Home Minister Meer Zia Langove said the rains and flash floods had damaged agricultural land and the government would compensate the people who had lost their farms and homes.