Torrential rains and ensuing flash floods continue to wreak havoc in Balochistan, killing six people and washing away a major gas pipeline on Friday. Balochistan is cut off from the rest of the region through the rail and road network. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has estimated that at least 205 people have been killed in Balochistan and over 10,000 people are displaced from their homes.
Heavy rains continue to batter Balochistan after a new spell of rains triggered flash flooding in several regions, killing at least six and washing away a major gas pipeline. The latest rain-related deaths were reported in Quetta, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar and other areas. Torrential rains continue to pour down and trigger flash floods in Lasbela, Zhob, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Bolan, Kalat, Dera Murad Jamali, Noshki, Kharan and other districts, damaging roads and rendering thousands of people homeless.
Flooding in the Bolan River washed away a 24-inch-wide gas pipeline passing under the riverbed near the Bibi Nani area, suspending gas supply to Quetta, Mastung, Pishin, Ziarat, Kalat and other adjacent towns. The SSGC officials confirmed the incident and said efforts were underway to repair the pipeline and contain the damage. However, replacing the damaged pipeline would take at least three to four days after the floodwater recedes.
Officials said that major highways liking Balochistan with Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab are stilled blocked after heavy landslides and floods, leaving thousands of travellers stranded.
The fresh spell of floods inundated at least 40 villages in the Bela area of district Lasbela, and more than 300 people were stranded after the floodwater entered their homes. Deputy Commissioner Lasbela, Murad Kasi, told the media that an alternated route prepared three days ago to assist the inter-provincial travel was once again washed away by the flash floods.
In another development, the Pat Feeder Canal in Balochistan’s Dera Murad Jamali was breached, inundating the nearby areas of Babakot and Suhbatpur. In Machh, heavy floods are now flowing over the Quetta-Sukkur highway, suspending traffic. Hundreds of vehicles are lining the highway near Fort Munro as the flood washed away the road.
The heavy rains caused a house to collapse in Usta Muhammad, killing five people who were trapped inside. In Dera Bugti, three people were killed when a house collapsed due to the torrential rains.
The heavy rains have wreaked havoc in several other areas of Balochistan, including district Harnai, where the floodwater has surrounded the district, isolating it from the rest of Balochistan. In Musa Khel, the floods washed away over 7000 cattle. Low-lying areas in Soorab were inundated in floodwater, while a major railway track in Rajanpur was washed away. The heavy rains in Jaffarabad collapsed and damaged numerous houses, forcing hundreds of people to seek shelter under the open sky.
The provincial government has called upon the centre to provide a special package of Rs60 billion for the repair of infrastructure and rehabilitation of the flood-hit families. US Secretary of State Antony Blinkon also tweeted on Wednesday the United States will provide $100,000 as immediate relief to Pakistan on top of a $1m package to build resilience against natural disasters.