-PDMA says six Highways, 18 Bridges damaged
-6,057 houses completely destroyed while 17,060 homes partially damaged, five more killed
-PAF continues flood relief operations in South Punjab, Balochsitan, Sindh
Bureau Report
QUETTA: Balochistan has been cutoff with rest of the country as flash floods badly damaged key highways, bridges that connecting the province with other parts of the country.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), six different highways with 690 km length and 18 bridges were damaged due to the floods. The PDMA was conducting relief operations in the affected districts.
According to PDMA, at least 600 tents, 1400 food packets, 400 blankets, 400 floor mats and 400 gas cylinders were distributed to the victims in the affected districts of, Nasirabad, Pishin, Mastung, Qila Saifullah and Kohlu during the last 24 hours.
The PDMA reported that 23,117 houses were damaged by the rains in the province out of which 6,057 houses were completely destroyed while 17,060 houses were partially damaged. The report also informed that the heavy rains caused loss of 107,377 livestock.
At least five more persons were killed in flash floods and monsoon rains in Balochistan, raising the death toll to 207 on Thursday. According to details, the death toll from recent monsoon rains and floods in different parts of Balochistan has risen to 207, including 98 men, 48 women and 61 children while 81 persons have been injured.
The PDMA reported that the deaths in rain-related incidents were reported from Chaman, Kech, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Zhob, Duki, Pishin, Panjgur, Kohlu, Harnai, Qila Saifullah, Sibi, Lasbela, Loralai, Jaffarabad, Kalat, Khuzdar and other districts.
Meanwhile, the emergency response teams of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Friday continued assisting the civil administration in rescue and relief efforts in the flood affected areas of South Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.
The teams were constantly busy in supplying basic food necessities and medical care to the flood-hit people while hundreds of locals trapped in floods in Kot Magsi, Bagh head, Habib Kot, Sohbatpur, Fazilpur and Hajipur areas were evacuated to safe places, a PAF news release said.
It said the PAF bases were actively participating in relief operations on the special instructions of Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
“The PAF has also established free medical camps where people are being provided medical facilities and free medicines. As a humanitarian gesture 99,805 pounds of ration and cooked food packs have been distributed among the needy families.” the news release added.
Some 2,889 patients were also attended by the paramedical team of Pakistan Air Force in last 24 hours as the relief operations were in progress, it said.
Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, on Friday said that provincial government had started relief operations in all affected districts where unprecedented monsoon rains caused severe damages to infrastructure of cities and crops in rural areas.
The minister in a statement issued here said that Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, Malir, Umerkot, Matiari, Badin, Thatta and Sujjawal districts have been badly affected by the recent monsoon spell.
He claimed that relief operations were underway in all the affected districts under supervision of members of the provincial cabinet while Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh was delivering tents and ration to the affected areas along with machinery for drainage.
On instructions of the Sindh Chief Minister, the government has immediately released Rs 3 million each to deputy commissioners of all the affected districts for relief operations, he said adding that district administration was also instructed to provide shelter to affected population in schools.
He said that the Sindh government would try its best to compensate the losses inflicted due to heavy monsoon rains as the CM Sindh has sought damage assessment report from all the divisional commissioners.
The affected families would also be provided financial assistance through Benazir Income Support Programme, he added.
Memon informed that Health and Local Government departments were also instructed to take necessary measures for preventing spread of gastroenteritis, malaria and dengue in the affected areas.
