Relentless rains kill 8 in Balochistan

Eight more people lost their lives in two different incidents of roof collapse in Jaffarabad and Dera Bugti, taking the provincial death toll to 215. It also caused huge infrastructure and property losses.

The situation prompted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to direct Commander Balochistan Corps to assist the provincial government in rescue and relief operations.

According to NDMA, the rains had inflicted huge life, property and livestock losses amid a heavy rain spell that prevailed in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. While Balochistan was the most-affected region, in the past 48 hours Sindh was witnessing the maximum rainfall that caused heavy life, property and infrastructure losses. Furthermore, the Met Office has warned of a new spell forecast that will cause further rains in eastern Balochistan, south Punjab and Sindh in the next 24 to 36 hours.

On Saturday, five people of a family in Goth Mir Khan Sobdrani Gandakha died instantly when the roof of their mud house caved in, official sources confirmed, adding three family members also passed away when the roof of their home collapsed in Dera Bugti district.

As per THE Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the monsoon rains and flood have so far claimed 215 lives in Bolan, Quetta, Zhob, Duki, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Mastung, Harnai, Qila Saifullah and Sibi districts of Balochistan.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called Commander Balochistan Corps and directed him to assist the provincial government in rescue and relief operations during floods. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief directed the Balochistan Corps commander to get an update on the flood situation and undertake all measures to assist Balochistan in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts on an emergency basis in coordination with the civil administration.

“Pakistan Army stands with flood-affected population in this difficult testing time and shall undertake this assistance effort as a national obligation,” the COAS said.

Incessant rain and flash floods in Balochistan have affected 18 bridges and 690 kms of the highway while it also killed as many as 107,377 cattle, damaged 23,117 houses while 6,057 houses collapsed. Traffic on the National Highway at Bolan connecting Balochistan with Sindh through Quetta-Sibi-Sukkur has been partially restored.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/balochistan/item/115285-relentless-rains-kill-8-in-balochistan.html