Rains lashing different areas of Balochistan have wreaked havoc in the past few days, killing over 50 people in numerous rain-related incidents. The rainwater and flash floods have also caused the collapse of houses and washed away peoples’ belongings, leaving hundreds of families stranded and helpless. The government statistics have put the death toll at 45, but the reports received by The Balochistan Post pose a much grim picture.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Balochistan has put the death toll of rain-related incidents at 45 which includes 18 women, 11 men, and 16 minors. In a report, the PDMA said that the incidents were reported in Quetta, Zhob, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Kech, Mastung, Harnai, Killa Saifullah and Sibbi. At least 47 people were seriously injured in rain-related incidents and 241 houses collapsed, the PDMA said.
In district Harnai, the rains and flash floods caused the suspension of traffic on the main highway leading to Punjab. The rains also heavily damaged the two main bridges on the Harnai-Quetta highway and uprooted the electricity poles, plunging the city and its adjacent areas into total darkness. The flash floods also broke and washed away the flood barriers and the rainwater flooded the regions of Killi Lal Khan, Killi Mirza, Underabad and a few other areas.
It should be noted that the figures collected by the PDMA do not include the rain-related incidents in Panjgoor, Nushki, Pishin and Hub Chowki. In the Sordo Haji Ghazi area of Panjgoor, four minors of a single-family were killed after the wall of a mudhouse collapsed over their heads. In the Baloch Colony, Hub Chowki, a building under construction collapsed due to the rains, killing the 14-year-old Abdul Rasool s/o Faiz Muhammad.
In Pishin, the Murga Malikar Dam broke due to the heavy rains and the rainwater flooded the nearby areas. The land connection to these areas was cut off and repeated announcements were made in the mosques for the people to get out of their homes and find safety. Hundreds of stranded families turned to Pishin city and Quetta in search of refuge.
A vehicle carrying the women and children to safety was washed away by the floods, leading to the deaths of the driver, two women and three children. The rescue workers have extracted three dead bodies and they are looking for the other three victims.
In Noshki, a child died after drowning in a Nullah.