Incessant rainfall leaves hundreds of people stranded in Baluchistan

Precipitation was reported in the areas of Lasbela, Pishin, Shaman, Qila Abdullah, Ziarat, Harnai, Duki, Sanjavi, Loralai, Fort Minro, Barkhan, Zhob, and Sherani within the last 24 hours.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), six people died in sudden floods in Qilla Abdullah late Friday night, taking the total number of rain-related fatalities in the province from June 1 to 188.

In Lasbela, water flooded the homes after the Winder River overflowed, leaving many families without shelter. Later, rescue teams rescued them and relocated them to safer locations.

Assistant Commissioner of Lasbela, Murad Kasi, told the media that the rivers and canals of Windar and Othal had been flooded by incessant rains in recent days. The RCD road and the Othal Bridge were wiped out.

“As a precaution, we moved residents to safer places,” he said, advising people not to travel to districts.

In Qila Abdullah, three dams were washed out and several connecting routes destroyed, according to an Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) report.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Quetta-Karachi highway was discontinued on Saturday, taking Balochistan out of Sindh. The railway service between Shaman and Quetta was also affected by the floods.

On the other hand, Commissioner Dawood Khilji said that the alternative route recently established near the Uthal Landa area on the National Highway had been washed away by flooding.

Earlier today, Baluchistan’s Chief Minister, Abdul Qadoos Bizenjo, expressed deep concern over the massive damage caused to Qila Abdullah, Shaman, Lasbela, and Muslim Bagh due to heavy rains.

He reached out to public representatives and the district administration of the flood-ravaged areas and ordered them to visit the affected areas and provide every possible assistance to the affected,” a statement on Radio Pakistan said.

Bizenjo also directed the immediate rescue of persons trapped in flood waters.

At a press conference later today, Mir Ziaullah Langove, advisor to Balochistan’s Chief Minister on Home and Provincial Disaster Management said most precipitation during the last monsoon spell was reported in northern Baluchistan.

Detailing the damage, he revealed that over 500,000 acres of farmland had been damaged, while more than 40,000 houses across the province were reduced to rubble.

“Over 2,100km of national highways and 25 bridges have been damaged during the monsoon rains,” he said.

“As a result, an emergency was imposed in 26 of the 34 districts.”

Langove added that PDMA and district authorities were conducting rescue operations in all areas affected by the rain. “Almost 30,000 people were provided with tents and food, and medical camps have been set up in several regions.”