Historic Sohbatpur town submerged

QUETTA: The historic town of Sohbatpur in Balochistan was evacuated after hill torrents submerged the city following torrential rains.

Residents left the city and took shelter on higher ground as their homes were overtaken by surging floodwaters. They said that the government did nothing to divert the floodwaters from the city towards the Indus river.

At least four persons – including a young girl and two women – died in separate flood-related incidents in Sohbatpur, while dozens of people are suffering from water-borne diseases in other affected districts of Balochistan.

A woman identified as Mai Zubida, hailing from Sindh, died of shock when she was informed about the death of her son and daughter in Sindh. A man, identified as Kapar Khan, died after a poisonous snake bit him. And Janat Bibi, 5, was killed after the roof of her house collapsed in Sohbatpur.

The state-run hospital in Sohbatpur tehsil was also inundated. After this a medical camp was set up outside the city where according to sources hundreds of affected people are being treated. There is a shortage of doctors and only one medical officer is engaged in providing treatment to patients.

Provincial Minister Ghazala Gola visited the relief camp in Sohbatpur and donated Rs 300,000 for survivors.

Referring to the shortage of doctors, Gola said she would take up the matter with the health department and ask them to send a team of doctors to the camp.

Sources said that 15 people suffering from water-borne diseases have been brought to the medical camp. The provincial health department has failed to take appropriate measures to check the outbreak of water-borne diseases in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan. Survivors continued their protest on the second day and blocked the National Highway near Dera Murad Jamali over the slow pace of relief operations. Protestors also blocked the path of a delegation of provincial ministers.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani asked all deputy commissioners of the province to expedite the survey of the flood-hit districts as soon as possible, so that the process of rehabilitation is completed at the earliest.

The chief minister undertook an aerial visit of Loralai and Harnai districts on Wednesday and held meetings with tribal elders, local administrators and affected people. He declared Zhob division as a calamity-hit area and said that the provincial government would use its available resources to help the affected people.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is due to visit Balochistan on Thursday to offer help to the flood-affected people. The commissioner of Naseerabad division will brief him on the devastation caused by floods in the area. Strict security arrangements have been put in place for the prime minister’s visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2010.