The relentless downpour in Naseerabad and surrounding areas continues to wreak havoc as the Saifullah Dam breaks, causing floodwaters to infiltrate residential areas.
Severe rainstorms have caused the Lehri River to overflow, resulting in a 62,000 cusec floodwater stream surging through Gagai. The floodwaters have led to the collapse of the Saifullah Dam located along the Lehri River.
Irrigation officials have warned that the situation may worsen as more floodwater from the dam breach heads towards the city. Authorities in neighbouring areas, Lehri and Sibi, have issued urgent advisories to the local administration, urging preparedness for potential flooding.
The local administration has requested residents to remain cautious, leading to a wave of fear and anxiety among the populace.
This situation is the latest in a series of extreme weather battering different parts of Balochistan. Previously, heavy rainstorms in Quetta and surrounding areas triggered landslides, leading to road washouts near Zhob. Efforts by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority to restore these affected areas have so far been unsuccessful.
It is worth noting that last year similar weather patterns resulted in monsoon rains and floods affecting all 35 districts of Balochistan, leading to 325 fatalities. From June to August. The floods damaged an estimated 346,000 homes, with 250,000 completely destroyed and over 96,000 partially damaged.
The estimated cost for repairing homes damaged by last year’s floods was around two hundred billion rupees.