Balochistan floods kill 9, leave hundreds homeless

Flash floods in Balochistan after the monsoon rains over the weekend wreaked havoc in the province and killed at least nine people and rendered hundreds homeless, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.

Balochistan government Spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said eight people lost their lives and 17 others were injured in the rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan. Over 300 villages are flooded, the TV channel said.

Liaquat Shahwani said: “Snowfall in January, coronavirus in February, locusts in April and now heavy rains have led to natural disasters. We will meet the expectations of the people by overcoming all the challenges in the best possible way.”

Flash floods caused havoc in several villages in Bhag Tehsil of Bolan District and in Chaghi. 

Pakistan Army has been conducting relief operations in the affected areas.

Sibi-Kashmore-Zhob Road is closed due to rains while the Quetta Road is also blocked for last two days at Rakhi Gaaj Neeli Matti in DG Khan’s tribal area.

Pakistan Railways started train Shuttle service as Quetta’s has been disconnection with several other districts.

After Dadu’s Teshil Johi, the floodwaters coming from Nai Gaj Dam in Khairpur Nathan Shah collided with the Flood Protection Dam, causing 50 feet wide breach in the dam due to water pressure, which inundated dozens of villages. 

According to Pakistan Meteorological Office said mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the province on Tuesday however, rain is expected in Zhob, Barkhan and Khuzdar. In last 24 hours, rainfall (mm) recorded in Balochistan including Quetta (Observatory 14, Smaungli 04), Khuzdar 12, Kalat 07, Turbat 05, Ormara 01, Gilgit-Baltistan: Bunji 04, Skardu 02, Astore 01, Sindh: Thatta 03, Karachi 01.

In an overnight flood in Khuzdar Sunday night, hundreds of residents lost their homes, cattle and possessions. Residents say the flood water entered their houses at wee hours and took everything along with it.

The losses incurred are worth millions of rupees in Balochistan where residents demanded the government to compensate for their losses and provide them food and shelter.

The Balochistan government said that rescue and relief operations are underway by the province's government and Levies Force officers. Shahwani has said that Rs350 million has been released to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to deal with the situation.

In Khuzdar's Maula Chatok, hundreds of tourists are stuck because of the rain. In Gwadar, the Dosi Nullah flooded along the Makran Coastal Highway. A 30-foot crack that had formed has been filled and traffic has resumed.

As per details, an under-construction bridge collapsed in Pasni due to strong currents near Badok. In Kohlu, some areas flooded and flooding in the Manjhara Nullah led to contact with Kohlu being cut off.

Another bridge near the Makran Coastal Highway was destroyed because of the water due to which transport between Gwadar, Lasbela and Karachi has been suspended.

It is pertinent to note that Balochistan PDMA on August 7 had warned that the monsoon system will likely generate flash flooding in Balochistan.

Punjab

In Lahore’s Shahdara area, Ravi-Baidian canal was overflowed and at several points water inundated in residential areas. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzal ordered the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to expedite the water pumping out from the inundated areas in Shahdara.

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The TV channel also reported that tourists were stuck in Fort Munro due to landslides that blocked the roads. 

As per the Met Office, monsoon currents are penetrating in upper parts of the country and a westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country. The Met office said rain with wind-thundershowers is expected in Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. 

This is Lahore ... that was Karachi... make drainage a priority issue .. am sure we can have pictures of this kind across Pakistan. Provincial/district govts must make these civic issues a priority across Pakistan. https://t.co/GoIOhUkVNm

— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) August 10, 2020

Heavy falls are also likely to occur at few places in Kashmir, upper Punjab and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period. Hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country.

Sindh

The people in Karachi are facing difficulties due to water-logging at some places and closed some underpasses for vehicles. 24NewsHD TV channel reported the situation in Karachi has not been returned to normal after the rains.

The Korangi Industrial Area has disconnected with Karachi due to flood in Mali River in Karachi. Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Amir Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman said that Karachi’s condition has deteriorated after rain. He termed K-Electric and the federal government for the electrocution deaths in the port city. 

He alleged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is trying to save the Abraaj Group of K-Electric because Abraaj Group funded then PTI leader Arif Alvi in Karachi, the TV channel reported. 

However, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said in a tweet said, “At this time, half of Lahore is drowned but we will not do politics on it. We are standing with the people of Lahore and praying for them.”

اس وقت آدھے سے زیادہ لاھور ڈوب چکاہے۔ہمارے پاس ویڈیوز بھی موجود ہیں مگرہم اللہ کے ان فیصلوں پرسیاست نہیں کرنا چاہتے نہ ہی بزدارسرکارکو شرمندہ کرناچاہتے ہیں۔ہم مشکل کی اس گھڑی میں ان کے ساتھ کھڑاہونا چاہتے ہیں اور دعاگو ہیں پروردگار لاھور کی عوام کو تکلیف سے دور رکھے۔ #lahorerain

— Syed Nasir Hussain Shah (@SyedNasirHShah) August 10, 2020