Balochistan reels from nature’s ravages

Rains, flashflood demolish many houses, destroy crops, ruin infrastructure: Pak-Iran freight train service suspended

By: News Desk
Published: 10:51 AM, 31 Jul, 2022
Balochistan reels from nature’s ravages
Caption: Video grabs.
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The heavy rains and hill torrents have inflicted huge losses on Balochistan where hundreds of houses have demolished, crops destroyed and orchards turned into wastelands, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Lasbela has been severely hit by the recent ferocious rainy spell. The residents are compelled to spend their days and nights in the open skies without any shelter and wherewithal of life. 

As many as six people including a security official were drowned in flashfloods in the province. However, three people were rescued from the Hub stream. Khuzdar was among the affected cities.

Hill torrents swept away rail tracks stretching on several feet in Chaghi, Ahmadwal, and Dalbandin areas.

Traffic on RCD highway was partially suspended after flash floods damaged the road at several locations. The Pak-Iran freight train service has also been suspended in view of flashfloods and heavy rains. Electricity supply to a few towns in Chagai and many areas of Dalbandin was suspended.

Heavy rain lashes many cities

A heavy monsoon spell is still lashing many parts of the country.

Many cities in Punjab including Lahore, Jehlum, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur and Rawalpindi received heavy downpour on Sunday morning submerging low-lying areas in these cities.

In Jhelum, torrential rain has caused damage to several houses, crops and Domeli Kamni Dam. It is feared that rainwater streams and nullahs would become overflown.  

Islamabad was also lashed with heavy rain today.  

According to the Metrological Office report, many parts of countries would receive heavy, to very heavy rain

50 villages inundated in Qambar 

Flashfloods hit Shahdadkot in district Qambar and inundated more than 50 villages. 

The ravages of nature are fast paced but the human efforts are slow. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday visited Jacobabad and Jhal Magsi to review devastation caused by floods in the areas.

Today, the premier wanted to visit the flood-hit Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts but due to inclement weather postponed his visit. 

During his Balochistan visit, the prime minister took an aerial view of Goth Ali Mardan Shambani and the chief secretary Balochistan briefed him on the flood situation and the related relief operations.

The premier also distributed Rs one million cheques each among the families of the children who died during the recent floods during his Jhal Magsi visit. He met the affected families and encouraged them. He said the government was with the people in this hour of difficulty.

Taking to his Twitter handle yesterday, PM Shehbaz wrote: “About 300 including 124 people from Balochistan have lost lives in the floods. Although there is no compensation for human life, the federal govt is paying Rs 10 lakh to every household of the deceased. I have also ordered increase in financial assistance for damaged houses.”

Also on Saturday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took an aerial view of the flooded areas of Dadu and Jamshoro districts. He announced a relief package for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges in Dadu as well as compensation of Rs1m for families of each victim of rain-related incidents. He also distributed ration bags among 1,000 affected families.