QUETTA: Thousands of people have been rendered homeless after the washing away of their mud-houses and many villages have been submerged by floodwater after two days of downpour in different areas of Kachhi, Kalat and Lasbela districts.

Several villages have also been cut off from the district headquarters because of the washing away of link roads.

The Nari river is in high flood after experiencing torrential rainfall in its catchment areas situated in the mountainous area of Harnai and Shahrag. The floodwater entered different areas of Kachhi district, destroying over 200 houses in Fatovani village of Bhagh tehsil where hundreds of people and animals are reported to be stranded.

Officials of the Provincial Disaster Management (PDMA) confirming the destruction caused by torrential rains said that the administration with the assistance of locals was shifting the affected people to safe places and providing them relief goods.

The officials said that no human loss had been reported so far from the rain-affected areas of Kachhi district.

Many villages have been cut off from the district headquarters of Kalat as flash floods washed away dozens of mud houses and link roads. Floodwater also entered various villages, forcing people to leave their houses.

Washing away of link roads disconnected Harboi, Lahar, Iskalo, Nichara, Killi Kapoto, Katli and Zehri from the district headquarters.

A large number of vehicles, including buses and trucks, were also stuck in floodwater.

Downstream areas of Kalat city was hit by flash floods coming from mountains and rainwater that gushed into houses, shops and markets. Traffic was thin on roads as several vehicles were stuck in accumulated rainwater.

Power supply to Kalat and other areas remained suspended after heavy rainfall.

Reports reaching from Uthal said that rains wrought havoc on Lasbela district as the downstream areas of Hub, Lakhara, Winder, Bela Lyari and Gadani were hit by floodwater damaging mud houses and cutting off many areas from the district headquarters.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2016