• Two people killed in lightning strike; severe weather damages several homes
• Low-lying areas in Gwadar, adjoining districts submerged

QUETTA: A new spell of heavy rain has hit Balochistan, causing widespread urban flooding across Quetta and numerous districts throughout northern, central and southern areas.

The relentless downpour, which began on Saturday evening, also led to the death of two individuals from a nomadic community due to lightning in the Killi Shadaizai area of Pishin district.

The severe weather has also resulted in significant damage to homes and the loss of large numbers of livestock. The showers have also left main roads and streets flooded with knee-high water and submerged low-lying areas in Gwadar and adjoining districts. Gwadar, in particular, is struggling with dewatering efforts to mitigate the effects of flooding.

In Kech, heavy rains suspended traffic and blocked connecting roads. Makran, Pasni, Ormara and other coastal towns also received rain.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Sunday that 21 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Gwadar over the last 24 hours, 10mm in Turbat and 2mm in Ormara, Turbat and Jiwani.

The department has warned of the risk of further flooding in Gwadar, Kech, Turbat and Panjgur, along with potential snowfall in the northern parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, urging authorities to take precautionary measures and relocate coastal residents to safer grounds.

Streets submerged, traffic disrupted

Quetta and its surrounding areas experienced the onset of rainfall around 3pm on Sunday, continuing intermittently and leading to urban flooding. The deluge has submerged roads and streets, causing significant traffic disruptions and hardship for pedestrians.

The city’s drainage and sewerage systems have been overwhelmed, and they are unable to cope with the volume of rainwater, further aggravating the situation.

Several mud houses have been damaged on the outskirts of Quetta, forcing residents to flee to safe places.

Numerous other districts are also grappling with the adverse effects of the rain, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Lasbela, Awaran, Chagai, Noshki, Washuk, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah.

Seasonal rivers and streams now carry water from the flash floods, posing threats to mud houses and dikes across the province. Though no casualties have been reported from these areas yet, the continuous rainfall raises concerns about potential damage and loss.

The inclement weather has affected travel, particularly on highways linking Balochistan with southern Punjab, Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa, and Karachi. Travellers are advised to seek updated information from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the National Highway Authority (NHA) before planning travel.

Officials said most areas submerged after last week’s heavy rains in Gwadar were dewatered using heavy engines and pumps arranged by the Gwadar Development Authority and the PDMA from the Sindh government.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Pakistan, has mobilised an emergency relief convoy to support flood-affected people in Gwadar, APP reported.

This humanitarian initiative saw the dispatch of five containers loaded with 9,000 food packages and 9,000 shelters, totalling 875 tonnes, from Islamabad to the rain-impacted areas of Gwadar, a news release said.

The departure ceremony, held at the Jinnah Stadium Sports Complex in Islamabad on Sunday, was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al Maliky and NDMA officials.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2024