Torrential rains pummel Balochistan

QUETTA:

Much of coastal towns and adjoining areas in Balochistan were deluged on Saturday by relentless rains, causing flooding that washed away roads and damaged mud houses.

And there’s the possibility of more rains under the influence of a weather condition in the Arabian Sea that expected to roll across the Makran coast. In the latest rainfall, six people were swept away in a flash flood in the Qila Abdullah district, raising the death toll in the province in rain-related incidents to 188.

The flood hit 12 people sitting in a tractor trolley in the Qili Paizai Syedan area of the district.

"We rescued six of them but the rest of them died,” Qila Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Kakar told the media. He added that a rescue operation was under way to shift the residents to safer places.

Floods have washed away the dams constructed in the mountainous Qila Abdullah district.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove. while speaking  at a hurriedly called news conference held at the  Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) office, told reporters that the people living in the affected villages had been shifted to safer places.

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Langove and other officials visited the PDMA office and reviewed the pace of the rescue and relief operation in the province.”The PDMA has provided all necessary food items to over 30,000 families affected families,” he added.

He further said the displaced families had also been provided with tents.

In Lasbela, water entered homes after Winder River overflowed, leaving several families displaced.

Floods have also caused the suspension of Quetta-Karachi Highway.

They have washed away small bridges in the province. They include Lunda bridge in Uthal.

Makran Division Commissioner Dawood Khilji cautioned people to avoid travelling on the Quetta-Karachi Highway.

He added that the administration was engaged in reopening of the highway to facilitate the passengers travelling on the highway.

Rains have swept away roads, bridges and dams in Lasbela, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Khuzdar and other parts of Balochistan.

Langove told reporters that an emergency had been declared in 26 districts of Balochistan.

The train service between Chaman and Quetta has also been affected because of floodwater.

Rainfall lashed Lasbela, Pishin, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Ziarat, Harnai, Duki, Sanjavi, Loralai, Fort Minro, Barkhan, Zhob and Sherani in the last 24 hours.

Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has directed the authorities concerned to use all available resources for immediate access to the flood-hit areas of Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Chaman and Lasbella.

In a statement, he also directed the immediate rescue of the people trapped in floodwater.

Bizenjo added that the communication links in flood-affected areas should be restored on a priority basis.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a new spell of rains and monsoon activity in the country from August 14 to August 18.

In a weather advisory. The PMD said a depression had developed in the Arabian Sea that was likely to move west along the Makran coast.

According to Radio Pakistan, monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in the southern parts of the country because of this weather system.

Another low pressure is likely to approach Sindh on Tuesday.

Under the influence of this weather system, rains, strong winds and thundershowers are  expected in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Sunday (today) till Tuesday with occasional gaps.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the human and financial losses caused by recent flash floods in Qila Abdullah.

Seeking an immediate report over the affected areas, PM Shehbaz directed the National Disaster Management Authority and PDMA to step up rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.

Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed the NDMA and all the provinces to expedite the relief assessment survey in flood-hit areas, particularly in Balochistan.

He issued these directions while chairing a Flood Relief Committee meeting.

Representatives from all the provinces informed the participants of the meeting that soon after the floods, immediate measures were taken and further progress was under way in collaboration with the NDMA.

The minister directed the stakeholders concerned to step up relief activities while ensuring the completion of joint relief assessment surveys in flood-hit areas so that the rehabilitation process could be started.

It was also decided to engage the Benazir Income Support Programme for the disbursement of cash to the flood-hit families.