Hundreds stranded in submerged Ghandaka

QUETTA: At least five persons drowned and about 20 others are missing after flash floods swept away the Ghandaka tehsil of Jaffarabad on Thursday. Hundreds are still stranded, while only 50 people have been reportedly rescued.

On Friday, the floods were heading towards Shahdadkot and Manchar Lake. The entire Ghandaka tehsil is submerged in eight to nine feet of water and power supply and roads remained suspended for the second consecutive day. Several villages of Sohbatpur and Tambo were completely inundated. Imam Baksh Jamali, Feroz Jamali, Kamal Lehri, Mahboob Jamali, Mir Mohammad Sasoli and adjoining areas are the worst hit.

According to reports, dozens of villages have been washed away and hundreds are marooned. However, relief operation lasted for a few hours only during which 50 people were taken to safer places.

People are complaining that no medical camp has been set up during the past five days on the outskirts of Ghandaka. Thousands of people took shelter near Saifullah Magsi Canal and then moved to Dera Murad Jamali deeming it safer.

“Hundreds of flood survivors, including four children, are stranded in Ghot Mohammad Jamali, Ghot Janan Jamali and Ghot Dur Mohammad Lashari,” a Ghandaka-based journalist Baberk says, adding that they have made several phone calls to authorities concerned but in vain. Around two dozen people from Ghandaka are reported to be missing. There are also reports of cattle in large number drowning and their carcasses posing threats of outbreak of epidemics. Power supply to Rojhan Jamali, Ghandaka, Sohbatpur and adjoining areas remains suspended.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2010.