Govt failed to protect people against deluge

The devastating monsoon rains and accompanying deluges have wreaked havoc in Balochistan, causing massive losses in men and treasure, as the top administrator said the province requires at least Rs35 billion for damage recovery and rehabilitation phase The provincial government has failed to ensure relief and protection of the masses from floods even though the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forewarned that the country was expected to receive “above average rainfall” during this year’s monsoon season.

At least 196 people – including 96 men, 45 women and 55 children – lost their lives due to the heavy rains and floods during the ongoing monsoon season which started on June 10 in the country. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported that the heavy rains caused a loss of over 500,000 livestock and damaged crops on 198,461 acres of farmlands in Balochistan. According to the PDMA data, 81 people – including 49 men, 12 women, and 20 children – were injured due to floods, while over 10,000 people were displaced.

The report stated that most deaths were reported in Chaman, Kachi, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Zhob, Duki, Pishin, Panjgur, Kohlu, Harnai, Killa Saifullah, Sibi, Lasbela, Loralai, Jaffarabad, Kalat, Kach, Khuzdar and other districts. The PDMA reported that a total of 21,027 houses were damaged or destroyed by the rain-induced floods. Eight highways, measuring 960kms, and 18 bridges were also damaged, it added. Moreover, tube wells, solar panels and other forms of communications are badly damaged by the rains.

Around 25 dams have washed away and many link roads destroyed in the province due to the heavy rain. The train service has also been affected due to flooding in the province. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people and government of the province for the special interest of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-ravaged people. During a meeting of the Relief Coordination Committee, chaired by the prime minister via a video link, the chief minister said that Balochistan has been severely affected by the rains and his administration has been using all resources to provide immediate relief to the victims.

“The cooperation of the federal government for the relief and rehabilitation operation is very important as the prime minister has personally visited the affected districts and reviewed the prevailing situation,” he said. However, he emphasised the need to speed up the efforts of NDMA. CM Bizenjo agreed on conducting a joint survey of damages with the federal institutions, for which he is the focal point of the province. He underlined the need to start the survey immediately and reduce its duration. On this occasion, Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Aqili informed the meeting that according to the preliminary estimates, Rs35 billion are required for compensation of damages and subsequent rehabilitation phase.