After being displaced, singer Wahab Bugti finds refuge in nearby city

Bugti’s situation became known when a Twitter user detailed the grave conditions the singer has been living under

The recent heavy rainfalls have resulted in devastating floods across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, leaving many homes submerged or completely destroyed. According to a report by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), more than 36,469 households have been affected, of which 60% are in Balochistan.

One such home belongs to Baloch singer Wahab Ali Bugti, who rose to mainstream prominence after the release of Coke Studio’s Kana Yaari in 2022, featuring his vocals alongside Baloch artists Kaifi Khalil and Eva B.

Upon reaching out, Wahab Bugti informed The Express Tribune over a telephonic conversation that he has now migrated from his village to the city of Dera Murad Jamali. Wahab and his family are safe now and he is incredibly grateful to all those sending in financial aid.

He also shared, "Xulfi and my peers from Coke Studio got in touch with me right after my brothers uploaded the photos of our displacement on social media. This was a day back, and since then their [CS] team has shown immense support."

Xulfi, on behalf of CS, shared on Twitter, "We are and will continue to be with Wahab Bugti Sahib and his loved ones to help overcome the difficult situation. Rest assured, he is being given all possible support on ground."

We are and will continue to be with Wahab Bugti Sahib and his loved ones to help overcome the difficult situation. Rest assured, he is being given all possible support on ground.#cokestudiofamily

— Xulfi (@zulfiqarjkhan) August 22, 2022

Bugti’s situation became known when a social media user on Twitter detailed the grave conditions the singer and his family have been living in after being impacted by the natural disaster.

“Wahab Bugti, who got famous after singing Kana Yaari at Coke Studio, has been living in dire conditions due to the floods in Balochistan. His mud house was destroyed and his family has been living without a home,” the tweet read, alongside photographs of Bugti and his family standing amongst the rubble left behind by the flooding.

Wahab Bhugti who got famous after singing “Kana yari” at coke studio has been living in dire conditions due to the floods in Balochistan. His mud house was destroyed and his family has been living without a home. pic.twitter.com/u7LoQHmVrT

— Nishat (@Nishat64) August 21, 2022

The tweet garnered a quick response, with many asking how to help the singer and his family. One social media user working towards flood relief efforts in Balochistan took it upon themselves to reach out to the singer. After being able to get in contact with him, the user tweeted out a mobile number to directly donate to the singer’s JazzCash account. They also began collecting donations on his behalf after the limit on the JazzCash soon became exceeded after an outpouring of support.

Hello folks, I just spoke to him and he has given me his jazzcash account. DM Jamali is currently being evacuated due to high threat of Pat Feeder flooding the area, Wahab is still stuck there. Please help him out. This is his Jazzcash account: 03002118309 https://t.co/EyVPA5WjLC

— Balochistan Flood Relief (@astroluigi1) August 21, 2022

Many known figures have shed light on the situation, including Bugti’s Coke Studio collaborator Kaifi Khalil, who tweeted out the mobile number to the singer’s JazzCash account and urged his followers to help.

0300 2118309 Wahab Bugti Jazz Cash please help him for help

— Kaifi Khalil (@kaifi_khalil) August 21, 2022

Activist and speaker Muniba Mazari also detailed the situation to her followers alongside photographs. “So heartbreaking! This is brother Wahab Bugti & this is what he’s going through right now. Allah Rehm!” the Goodwill Ambassador tweeted.

If you want to help Brother Wahab Bugti here’s his number for Jazz Cash 0300 2118309. Let’s help in whatever ways we can. May Allah make things easier for us all! 🤲🏻

— Muniba Mazari (@muniba_mazari) August 21, 2022

Singer Hadiqa Kiani posted about the singer’s condition on Instagram, urging for donations through her flood relief campaign Vaseela for delivering supplies and building shelters.

Many social media users have also urged Coke Studio to take it upon themselves to lead the evacuation efforts for Bugti and his family, calling it their “crucial responsibility to come up to assist him during his worst days.”

The famous Balochi singer Wahab Bugti has also been affected by recent flood n Balochistan.@cokestudio has made million of rupees from his song #KanaYaari" and now it has been crucial responsibility of Coke studio to come up to assist him during his worst days#balochistanfloods

— Faheem Baloch (@LalaFahimbaloch) August 21, 2022

Ahmed Ali Butt also posted about the situation on Instagram alongside a short note directed towards Coke Studio. "I request Coke Studio to take care of their artist. Just like they benefit from artists and their name, as a brand they should also feel a moral responsibility to secure their artist's wellbeing. A small act of kindness goes a long way," the Punjab Nahi Jaungi actor wrote.

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