QUETTA: Torrential rains killed at least nine people, including children, in Balochistan this week, disaster management officials said on Friday.
“Nine persons, including four children and a woman, died in the torrential rain,” Zahid Saleem, chief of the province’s disaster management authority, told AFP. He said four children and a woman were killed on Friday after a roof caved in due to heavy rains in Sheerani District. “In other incidents, three people were killed in two districts of Mastung and Loralai during the last two days”. Saleem added one person also died after being struck by lightening in Dalbandin district. Met Office said more rain was forecasted across the province over the weekend.
The storm water nullahs in various districts of Balochistan have received flash flood following heavy rains of Thursday and Friday. Reports suggest heavy rains continued to lash various areas of the province, including Kalat, Sorab, Nokundi, Chaghai, Qila Abudllah, Pishin, Yaro Saranan, Bostan, Toab Kakari, Toba Achakzai, Noshki, Harboi, Nichara, Panjgur, Ziarat, Sibi, Mach, Dera Murad Jamali, Chhatar, Manjho Shori, Mir Hasan, Khuzdar, Naal, Wadh, Karkh, Dalbandin, Taftan, Saindak, Gandawa, Chaman, Jhal Magsi, Kharan, Awaran, Harnai, Zhob, Shirani, Musakhel, Barkhan, due to which storm water nullahs of these areas received flash floods.
Mud houses and roads were damaged in the areas that received heavy rains and flash floods. Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a statement that all necessary arrangements to tackle any emergency situation are in place. Also, IESCO Chief Executive Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan has directed the utility’s staff to remain alert due to expected heavy rain. He order the technical staff to ensure timely redressal of consumers complaints.
Khan said the general public should adopt precautionary measures during rain, as little carelessness or negligence can lead to fatal consequences. It asked its consumers to not touch naked wires and get defective wiring repaired, use a three-pin plug along with proper earthing while using iron, washing machine, refrigerator etc. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had on Wednesday issued a weather advisory which predicted the decaying phase of prevailing El Nino is indicating some strong signals regarding extraordinary rains in South Asia, including Pakistan during the current month.
All rescue and relief agencies and departments have been asked to be ready to respond on a short notice and issue early warnings to communities living in proximity of waterways, hill torrents. PMD has called for monitoring of bridges, causeways and important communication infrastructure for any expected damage.
