Heavy rain lashes Gwadar, other parts of Balochistan

Heavy rains again lash Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan on Sunday, suspending normal life in the province, Met office has predicated stormy rains during March 11 to 14 all across Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. The rain in Balochistan which began yesterday evening, left main roads and streets flooded with water and submerged low-lying areas in Gwadar and adjoining districts. In Kech, heavy rains suspended traffic and blocked connecting roads.

According to Met office, 21 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Gwadar over the last 24 hours, 10mm in Turbat and 2mm in Ormara, Turbat and Jiwani. The Met Office said rain and thunderstorms with isolated showers were forecast in Turbat, Kech, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara, Panjgur, Kharan, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Awaran districts today.

Separately, light rain was reported in several parts of Karachi earlier in the day. In a press release issued today, the PDMA said a westerly wave was prevailing over Balochistan and adjoining Sindh. Rain and thunderstorm was likely in Jamshoro, Dadu, Larkano, Kambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Sukkur, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroze and Shaheed Benazirabad districts during next 48 hours.

In Balochistan, rain-wind with isolated heavy fall was expected in Turbat, Kech, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara, Panjgur, Kharan, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella and Awaran. While rain and snowfall over the hills was expected in Chagi, Noushki, Washuk, Mastung, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhel, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Ziarat, Quetta, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah during next 48 hours.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm was also expected in Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Bajaur, Karak, Khyber, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan and Kurram during next 48 hours. Rain and snowfall over the hills was expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Kashmir’s Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) during next 24  hours.

Rain with heavy falls was also expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali and Bhakkar during March 11 to March 14. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed all relevant departments to take preven­tive measures to avoid any untow­ard situation in the face of expected heavy rains in the province.

Landslides in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan may affect the vulnerable points in the area during the wet spell.

Meanwhile relief activities in Gwadar continued as NDMA sent 875 tons of relief supplies including 9000 ration bags and 9000 shelters and other supplies for rain victims. CM Balochistan Safraz Bugti thanked Saudi government for sending relief goods for rain-hit areas in Gwadar. The CM also thanked Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Al Malaki for helping the needy in Balochistan.

Reporters: Esa Tareen, Rozina Ali