Armed forces assist in rescue efforts as over 100 perish in floods across Pakistan

The armed forces on Thursday stepped up their relief efforts in flood-ravaged districts of Balochistan, with the death toll from the unprecedented rainfall now at 111.

As part of its relief activities, two helicopters of the Army Aviation have flown from Karachi to Balochistan's Othal and Lasbella areas to assist in rescue efforts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the military’s media wing, the helicopters had attempted to fly out during the last 48 hours but could not due to inclement weather conditions. The helicopters would now take part in the effort to shift stranded people to safer places and transport necessary relief items.

The statement added that the general officer commanding Gwadar visited Othal to oversee rescue and relief efforts, and today the senior local commander of Khuzdar is set to visit the flood-affected areas.

The ISPR added that ground rescue and relief teams were busy in Othal and Jhal Magsi areas and were shifting people to safer places and providing food and water to the locals.

Read Torrential rains wreak havoc in Karachi

The military media wing also said that doctors and paramedics were providing medical care to the affected people and the coastal highway, which had suffered damage during the torrential downpours, had opened for traffic.

“Efforts are underway to repair the damaged communication infrastructure and restore utilities. Protection bund in Turbat which was breached has been repaired,” the military said.

Flash floods unleashed by heavy rainfall had continued to lash the province on Wednesday and hundreds had been evacuated with the help of rescue teams, boats and helicopters.

“Some 104 people were reportedly killed in the floods."

Additionally, the ISPR stated that troops were assisting civil administration in providing relief efforts in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan due to flash flooding and hill torrents.

Medical camps have been established by the army to provide medical care to local people affected due to floods.

In Sindh, apart from dewatering efforts in Karachi, the troops were occupied by relief efforts in Jamshoro and Gharo areas, added the statement.

The Pakistan Navy is also continuing with its relief efforts in Sindh and Balochistan.

According to the spokesperson of the Navy, due to the disconnection of land routes, Navy helicopters delivered rations and other essential goods to different areas of Balochistan's Lasbela district.

Flood relief

In a tweet, ex-prime minister Imran Khan stated that he had ordered the government of Punjab to “immediately provide flood assistance to ppl in the devasted areas of South Punjab” and affected regions of Mianwali.

He added that he had asked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately “provide flood relief” to those in affected areas of Balochistan.

‘No rescue’

Meanwhile, the people of Balochistan have called out the ill-prepared infrastructure, lamenting that the floods have badly exposed the capacity of disaster management authorities to rescue them in the hour of trial.

"No helicopter, no rescue worker,” a young man cried for help in a video widely shared on social media on Wednesday.

The man said a child died after the entire area was inundated by a deluge of rain, complaining no aid has been sent for the last three days.

In Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan, journalist Ghazanfar Abbas said that "people were helping themselves and others". In a video posted on his Twitter handle, dozens can be seen atop a bus and others holding a rope to get onto dry land.