Quetta declared disaster struck as Balochistan rains kill 13
July 06, 2022
- Several villages in Balochistan flooded.
- More than 20 people injured.
- Rescue operations hampered due to broken bridges, roads.
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has declared Quetta a disaster-struck area and imposed a state of emergency in the provincial capital after rain wreaked havoc, killing more than a dozen people in the province.
Due to torrential rains, the rivers and canals of the province have overflowed. Thirteen people were killed and more than 20 were injured when the walls and roofs of dozens of houses collapsed and people drowned due to flash floods.
According to the Balochistan Disaster Management Authority, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Pishin and Harnai districts have been the most affected by the rains, whereas flood conditions have also been reported in Muslim Bagh, Qamaruddin, and Khushnoob.
There were flash floods overnight in several villages of Khushnoob, and a link bridge was swept away, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the affected people.
According to the assistant commissioner, the wards and emergency rooms of Muslim Bagh Civil Hospital were flooded, while rain in the hilly areas of Muslim Bagh damaged more than 100 houses.
Moreover, the link roads of Kan Mehtarzai, Loi Band, and Ragha Sultanzai were washed away in the floods.
The Chaman administration has said that more than 70 houses were affected by the floods in Badizai and Torkhel areas, while the Harnai-Punjab-Loralai Highway has been closed for traffic due to torrential rains.
According to Levies officials, part of the Valin Dam in the Afghan border area of Qamaruddin broke, causing water to enter low-lying areas and flood 11 homes. The affectees have been shifted to safer places.
Meanwhile, the bodies of two children have been found in the Pathankot river in Loralai.
The Levies officials said most of the access roads to remote areas of Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and Harnai have been affected and rescue operations hampered in several areas.
Karachi situation
Over in Karachi, 40-50mm of rain is expected today under the influence of a strong weather system that has developed over the sea.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that low air pressure is present in the south of Sindh which is getting moisture from the North Arabian Sea.
The weather department said that heavy rain is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Umerkot, Mirpur Khas, and Tharparkar this morning.
According to the PMD, rains are likely to continue in the city till July 9 which may cause flooding in low-lying areas.
