Anita Wilson
Quetta: Torrential rains on Monday lashed Quetta and central and northern parts of Balochistan for several hours with flash floods hitting different areas leaving scores of people injured. However, Ziarat, Toba Achakzai, Kan Mehtarzai, Muslim Bagh, Khanozai and the mountains around Quetta witnessed snowfall whereas mercury dropped to minus eight degrees Celsius in Kalat.
The injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital Quetta. Most of roads in Quetta turned into virtual streams after rain. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has advised people to avoid travelling between Quetta and Karachi, Ziarat and Chaman and Qila Abdullah as heavy rain continues to hit the areas.
PDMA has also asked people not to cross seasonal drainages on vehicles and bicycles as they are likely to spill due to heavy rains. In Kalat, Mastung, Mangochar, Chaman, Pishin, Zhob, Qila Abdulla and many other parts of northern Baluchistan, mud-houses, which had already been vulnerable owing to the last week’s heavy snowfall, were further damaged in different areas.
Parts of Qila Abdullah district, including Toba Achakzai and some villages, have been cut off from Chaman and other adjoining areas. However, the people residing in flood sensitive areas have been rescued and shifted to the district hospital in Chaman.
In Quetta, on the other hand, pedestrians seemed flummoxed due to overflow of rain water on roads which had reflected a scenario of streams.
Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has put the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners on high alert to tackle any emergency; and directed the PDMA to provide relief goods and food items to affected people.
Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattah has also ordered the PDMA and the district authorities to remain alert to deal with any untoward situation. Emergency control rooms and focal points for disseminating information have been set up in the district headquarters after Chief Secretary directed the authorities concerned to inform people in flood-prone areas about the situation and immediately stock relief goods, including food and tents.
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