QUETTA (NNI): Leaves of all concerned officers and other employees have been cancelled as the government of Balochistan, in view of stormy rains lashing different parts of the province for the last several days, has imposed a rain and urban flood emergency.
According to the spokesman for the provincial government, all government and private schools will remain closed in rain-hit districts of the province today as well as tomorrow.
Keeping in view the situation arising out of heavy rains and flooding of the province’s cities, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has chaired an online meeting of all divisional commissioners and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials.
Principal Secretary to the CM Imran Zarkun and the PDMA DG briefed the meeting about the situation on the occasion.
CM Bugti expressed his strong displeasure over the failure of district administrations to drain out the rainwater. “The government will provide whatever resources the field staff ask for,” he said, adding, “Ridding the people of the present situation is the government’s responsibility.”
He ordered the field staff to remove encroachments from around the nullahs so that the water could be drained out.
The bridge in Dab Khanzai area was washed away by floodwaters, severing connection between Pishin Bazaar and Barshor and Toba Kakrri.
On the other hand, several vehicles were left stranded in Pishin after heavy rains in and around the city inundated not only low-lying areas but also flooded roads.
In the absence of rescue services, the motorists were left with no other choice but to pull these vehicles out on their own.
On the other hand, the PDMA has predicted that the downpour lashing different parts of Balochistan since April 12 will continue for the next few days.
The spokesman for the Authority has said that so far seven people have died in incidents of lightning and destruction of homes in the province. “The fatalities have been reported from Sorab, Dera Bugti, Pishin, Loralai and Kech,” he has informed.
Similarly, he has said, partial damage has been caused to seven homes in Gwadar and Pasni after they were inundated by water following devastating rains.
The spokesman has said that the PDMA teams are busy draining out water from the affected areas besides carrying out other relief and rescue activities.
He has informed that partial damage has also been caused to some parts of the coastal highway.
The spokesman has said that the Authority’s teams are making efforts to open the Harnai-Quetta road for traffic after it was closed due to landslides.
Similarly, he has said, two people who had got stuck in the River Kech have been rescued and moved to a safe place.
“Water entered homes in several localities located at Jan Muhammad Road after downpour lashing Quetta and its suburbs for the last several days, resulted in a deluge.
As many as seven people have died, 10 have been injured while 84 homes have been damaged in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during the last two days, says a report released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
While in a major development, the road connecting Pakistan to Afghanistan has been closed for traffic at Landi Kotal after heavy rains and subsequent floods in the area.
The authorities have said since there is a flood in the area, therefore the people commuting from Peshawar to Landi Kotal and vice versa are advised to exercise caution.
The PDMA report informs that 15 homes have been completely destroyed due to heavy rains in KP.
It says that of seven people dying in rain-related incidents, four were children, two were men and one was a woman, while four women, five men and a child were injured.
The report informs that the incidents of loss of lives and damage to properties have been reported from different districts of the province namely Upper and Lower Dir, Chitral Lower, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, Mansehra, Mohmand and Malakand.
Rains lashing district Khyber for the last three days has resulted in the collapse of several homes and walls.
Similarly, cars worth billions of rupees have been destroyed in an incident of roof collapse.
Likewise, over a dozen cattle were killed when the roof of a house came crashing down on them at Barra.
In view of heavy rains lashing different parts of KP for the last few days, Provincial Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has ordered concerned district administrations and departments to provide relief goods to the affected families immediately.
The CM has also ordered the provision of best medical facilities to those injured in these incidents.
The PDMA has said that it has provided relief goods to the people affected by torrential rains. “Around 200 tents have been sent for the rain-hit people in Lower Chitral,” the Authority has said, adding, “The roads, which had been closed in Lower Chitral following incidents of landslide, have now been opened for traffic, while instructions have been issued to the district administration to open the remaining roads as early as possible.”
The PDMA has said it is in constant touch with the district administrations and other concerned departments. “The emergency operation center is open round the clock, and in case of any unpleasant incident people can contact it by dialing 1700,” the PDMA has informed.
As many as 26 people have so far lost their lives to incidents of lightning reported from different parts of the country. NNI
