Rains to wreak havoc across country on Eid

Death toll from flood-related incidents in Balochistan climbs to 57 as four more bodies were recovered

QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI:

The ongoing monsoon season continued to wreak havoc in major cities across the country as people suffered from prolonged power outages while commuters were stuck in hours-long traffic jams.

The death toll from rains and flood-related incidents in Balochistan, the largest province of the country area-wise, climbed to 57 on Friday as four more bodies were recovered from across the province.

In Karachi, four people, including two women, were electrocuted in different parts of the city while two sacrificial animals brought for Eidul Azha also died of electrocution.

According to reports, 38-year-old Ruqiya Mobin died after receiving an electric shock in her house at Mansehra Colony, Landhi on Friday morning while she was busy in her daily chores. Separately, Savera, 26, also died of an electric shock as water seeped into the switch boards of her home at Moach Goth.

In another account, 23-year-old Raqibullah Khan was electrocuted inside his house in the Manghopir area.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Abdul Rehman was also electrocuted in Garden Market.

On the other hand, two sacrificial animals were also electrocuted at Lines Area.

Meanwhile, a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officer said most of the casualties were reported in Quetta, Barkhan, Pishin, Kohlu, Bolan and Zhob.

The officer requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall continued to play havoc in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan for the fifth day in a row.

Dozens of people who sustained injuries were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Quetta for medical treatment. An emergency has been declared at all government-run hospitals located in all affected districts of the province.

"Expedite relief and rescue operation throughout Balochistan," Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo directed the departments concerned. Bizenjo chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review the rescue and relief operation in the province.

Also read: Two missing after three swept away by flash flood in Karachi

Floods and torrential rains also damaged over 673 mud and brick-walled houses in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, the PDMA official said. Rains have left thousands of people homeless in Quetta and other affected districts.

Flash floods have also swept away small bridges and dams across Balochistan.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqiali visited the flood and rain-affected Pishin. Pishin Deputy Commissioner briefed the chief secretary about the pace of rescue and relief operations in the district.

Member of provincial assembly Asghar Tareen and political leaders were also present. The CS directed an inquiry into the breaching of various dams in Pishin district. Floods have swept away small dams in the district.

Further, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday forecast rain and wind-thundershower in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Lower Sindh, and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

While issuing a warning, the PMD spokesperson said heavy rainfalls might generate flooding in local nullahs of Lasbela, Naseerabad, Gwadar, Panjgur, Turbat, Awaran, Barkhan, Quetta, Bolan, Kohlu, Potohar region, northeast and central Punjab.

In Punjab, he said, "Rain with wind-thundershower is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bahawalnagar.

While heavy rainfalls are also likely in the Pothohar region, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, and Mandi Bahauddin.

The spokesperson said, "In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, hot and humid weather is anticipated in most districts of the province. However, rain with wind-thundershower is expected in Swat, Buner, Malakand, Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Shangla, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kurram, Kohat, Waziristan, Bannu, and DI Khan."

Heavy rainfalls are also likely in Mardan, Peshawar, Nowshera, Haripur, and surrounding areas during the same period.

He said, "In Sindh, partly cloudy weather is predicted in most districts of the province – rain with wind-thundershower in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, and Sanghar."

He said, "In Balochistan, hot and humid weather is expected in most districts of the province. However, rain with wind -thundershower is likely in Khuzdar, Kalat, Quetta, Dalbandin, Muslim Bagh, Lasbella, Panjgur, Awaran, Kharan, Zhob, Barkhan, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Makran, Turbat, and Gawadar.

"Rain with wind-thundershower is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Heavy rainfalls are likely in Kashmir during the period."