Six more died, gas pipeline washed out in Balochistan
Heavy rains and flash floods continued to wreak havoc in Balochistan, killing six people and washing out a major gas pipeline on Friday in a province already cut off from other parts of the country by roads and railways.
In the meantime, flooding in rivers and creeks across Gilgit-Baltistan continued to affect the lives and infrastructure.
In Balochistan, the latest deaths due to rain were reported in Quetta, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar, and other regions. Abundant rains and sudden floods also continued to hit Lasbela, Sibi, Zhob, Loralai, Bolan, Khuzdar, Kalat, Dera Murad Jamali, Noshki, Kharan, and other districts, damaging roads and houses and increasing the number of homeless people.
In the Bolan district, flooding in the Bolan River swept a 24-inch-wide gas pipeline under the river bed near the Bibi Nani area, suspending gas supplies to Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat, Pishin, Ziarat, and others.
SSGC officials confirmed the incident and stated that efforts were being made to connect the pipeline to a smaller 12-inch pipeline to restore gas supply. However, replacement of the damaged pipeline could take at least three to four days after the floodwater lows.
The link between Balochistan and Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was still blocked by massive landslides and floods.
Heavy rocks fell on the roads of Fort Munro-Dera Ghazi Khan and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan after the landslides were unable to be removed, leaving hundreds of people stranded. A number of trucks transporting fruit, vegetables, and other goods have also been blocked in the past two days.
Security officials said up to 10 km of the road had been hit and removing rocks and heavy mud could take longer than a week. The rail line linking Quetta to the rest of the country has still not been cleared.
Meanwhile, a new spell of rain and flooding inundated at least 40 villages in Bela, in the Lasbela district, and over 300 people were blocked after floodwaters entered the houses.
Flooding in the Porali River flooded part of a national highway, suspending the movement of people. A flood barrier was also removed from the Bela area.
Gilgit-Baltistan
Meanwhile, flooding in rivers and creeks across Gilgit-Baltistan continued on Friday, leaving many people homeless, sweeping crops, farmlands, and roads, and the supply of electricity and Internet services suspended. Continued flooding was also detrimental to relief efforts, and residents of remote areas remained isolated from other areas.
According to the deputy commissioner of Nagar, Zaid Ahmed, flooding occurred in Hoper nullah fifth time since July 22. According to residents, a number of houses in the village of Shaman were damaged, leaving five families homeless.
Livestock farms, crops, farmland, and trees were wiped out in Shaman. The floods in Hoper nullah have also affected the ownership of the people of Tokorkot and threatened infrastructure such as bridges.
Mr. Ahmed said the affected people had been evacuated and moved to a safe location where 14 tents had been installed and food packaging had also been distributed.