QUETTA: Several parts of eastern and central Balochistan were cut off from the provincial capital as traffic was suspended once again after bridges and causeways on the Quetta-Sukkur national highway were damaged due to heavy torrential rains lashing many districts of the province for the last 48 hours.

Dozens of mud-houses in different areas were damaged or collapsed because of rains and flooding.

Mach was completely cut off from Quetta as the bridge connecting the town with other areas was again damaged just one week after its repair due to floodwater coming from Bolan river after heavy rains in its catchments at Harnai and Ziarat mountains.

Officials of the irrigation department said Bolan and Nari rivers were in high flood as rains continued in Harnai and Ziarat districts. According to reports, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Subhatpur, Dear Allahyar, Bolan, Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Lasbela and all three districts of Makran division, including Turbat, Gwadar and Panjgur, have received heavy rains for the last two days. Flash flood damaged many link roads in these districts.

At least 20 villages in Jhal Magsi were submerged in floodwater and the district was cut off from Gandawah sub-division. Roads linking Jhal Magsi with other districts were closed due to heavy floods and rains.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2020