5 die in rain-related incidents in Balochistan

Quetta: At least five people were killed in different areas of the Balochistan province in rain related incidents as the heavy monsoon rains were continuously lashing with thunderstorm that caused many areas of the province to be cut off as link roads were washed away in the flash flood, on Sunday.

Officials said that the four districts of northern Balochistan, including Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Harnai and Qila Saifullah were faced with the destruction of human settlements that rendered hundreds of people displaced as their mud hoses were washed away in the heavy flood.

“The link road were taken away by flash flood in these districts and they have no road contact with the provincial capital Quetta,” a senior official of the affected district said, adding that flash flood also badly affected the standing crops of seasonal vegetables and apple and grapes orchards in these districts, including Ziarat, Sanjavi, Pishin, Khanozai, Muslim Bagh and other areas.

Officials said that a couple was found dead when their car was swept away in seasonal Beeji streams while crossing the flash flood water at Sibi-Harnai road. Their bodies were recovered by the people of the area. The man was identified as Muhammad Ibrahim Khajak, an employee of the livestock department. A child drowned and died in the Zhob area while two more deaths were reported in flood hit areas of Harnai and Qila Saifullah during the last 24 hours.

According to reports the situation in Jhal Magsi was still serious where over a dozen villages were submerged in the flood water and there is no road link to rescue the families stranded in flood hit villages. Though the PDMA claimed that they had sent boats and were launching operation to rescue the stranded families but no such operation could be launched in the area.

Officials further said that a big breach was developed in Rabi canal in Nasirabad district and the flood water in several villages in the area washed away link roads.

A levies check post was also washed away in the flash flood at Sindh-Balochistan border of Jaffarabad district.