Nature's fury worsens in Punjab, Balochistan

Balochistan’s link to other provinces cut; PDMA warns of urban, riverine flooding in Punjab

QUETTA/ LAHORE:

More torrential rain wreaked havoc in Punjab and Balochistan, vanishing roads under floodwaters while riverine deluge isolating thousands of people, amid warning from the authorities on Friday that the nature's fury could worsen the situation in the coming days.

In the Bolan district of Balochistan, the National Highway, which connects the province with Sindh and Punjab, was closed once again due to heavy rains and floods, while officials warned of increasing risk of urban as well as riverine floods following heavy rains in various districts of Punjab.

A day earlier, the third spell of monsoon rains took the lives of at least five people, including three children, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), besides triggering flash floods that washed away roads and bridges in several remote areas in upper and central parts of the country.

Read more: Relentless rain heaps more misery on K-P, Balochistan

The continued rain and flash floods also severed Balochistan’s road link to Punjab and Sindh, while hundreds of people were displaced when at least 50 villages were inundated after the Chenab river burst its banks in Punjab.

According to the Bolan district administration, a temporary road at the Pinjara bridge was flooded once again. The road was opened for a few hours just a day earlier, after being closed for five consecutive days following heavy rain in the area.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said in its daily update that the water level in the rivers was gradually increasing as fears mount about urban flooding as a result of heavy rains in various districts.

The PDMA said that relief and rescue efforts continued in the province to bring the vulnerable population to safety. According to the official figures, Okara and Kasur were the worst-affected districts, where 69,739 and 73,196 people had been rescued.

In the province, the NDMA said, all the rivers were in low-to-medium flood, while the water level was increasing gradually because of the incessant rain. The report said that the Indus was in moderate flood at Taunsa. It added that there was low level of flood at Tarbela, Chashma and Kalabagh.

The Ravi, according to the report, was in low flood at Baloki; Sutlej in medium flood at Sulaimanki and low flood at Gandasingwala. “Considering the weather conditions, the water level in the rivers and canals is likely to increase further,” the PDMA spokesperson said.