Rains and flash floods in Balochistan since June have killed at least 99 people including 32 children and 28 women while damaging more than 4,000 homes, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority report said.
In the last 24 hours, two men and a child were killed in rain-related incidents in Quetta and Jaffarabad. Meanwhile, 706 livestock animals have been killed in floods. Women and children have also faced the brunt of the floods and torrential rains in Quetta and parts of Balochistan. Flash floods caused by heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in almost all districts of Balochistan.
The PDMA report added that over 2,500 houses have been completely damaged, while 1,417 houses have been partly damaged in the rains.
Separately, nine bridges and four roads have been submerged in water.
In Turbat’s Mirani river, the water levels rose to 249.5 feet, raising the chances of flash floods. In other areas too, dams and reservoirs have been filled to capacity.
The cities that recorded the highest rainfall include Ziarat, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, and Quetta. The PDMA said it has been dispatching relief items to the residents of Quetta and Panjgur, some of the most-affected areas. So far, 1,100 ration bags and 50 camps have been sent, along with 200 blankets, 250 floor matts and 200 mosquito repellants.
Earlier, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif directed the National Disaster Management Authority’s chairperson to increase the presence of officials in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan and he ordered the acting chief of NDMA to immediately reach Quetta and support the provincial government to rehabilitate the flood affected people.
The Balochistan government has announced Rs.2 million for the heirs of the victims. Balochistan and federal governments each would provide Rs. 1 million to the heirs of the victims.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in the latest forecast report said that there will be more rain in the upcoming days because a weak seasonal low lies over Northwest Balochistan. It said hot and humid weather was expected in most parts of the country.
However, isolated rain and thunderstorms were expected in Sherani, Zhob, Musakhel, Qila Saifullah, Duki, Barkhan, Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Chaghi, Ziarat, Harnai, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Bolan, Nasirabad, Lehri, Sohbatpur, Jhal Magsi, Jafarabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kharan, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech, Awaran, Lasbella and coastal areas of Balochistan.
Heavy rain may trigger water-logging/urban flooding in low-laying catchment areas of the districts, the Met Office warned.