QUETTA: Five more deaths were reported in Balochistan as heavy downpours continued in many areas on Tuesday.

The road connectivity of various villages and cities with district headquarters and the provincial capital, Quetta, has been cut as flash floods washed away link roads.

According to officials, three children drowned while taking a bath in flood water in Baghbana area of Khuzdar district. Levies personnel and rescue workers managed to rescue one of them, while the other two died after being swept away by the deluge.

Two more deaths were reported in the Kakar Khurasan area of Zhob district. According to officials, two children lost their lives after being swept away in a flash flood in a nearby dam. One death was reported in Qila Abdullah as well.

Four children drown in Khuzdar, Zhob; Hub Dam ‘filled to capacity’

The total number of casualties in rain-related accidents over the last three days has increased to 10.

According to the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the total death toll during this monsoon season stood at 31, including 20 children.

A PDMA official told Dawn.com that a “new spell of rain entered Balochistan a day ago and was expected to continue till [Tuesday night] in 22 districts.”

He confirmed that 11 Balochistan districts have been decla­red calamity-hit as of yet, where the authority’s aid efforts were underway.

According to reports, heavy rains continued in Bolan, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Kalat, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Ziarat, Harnai, Sanjavi, Mus­akhel, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Barkhan, Muslim Bagh and Zhob.

In Qila Saifullah, hundreds were rendered homeless after a flash flood hit human settlements and washed away large numbers of mud houses.

The local administration said the displaced families have been shifted to tents placed at three locations. They have also been provided with relief goods. A flash flood is also threatening the Baag town of Kachhi district as the rising water level has put pressure on the protection wall around the area.

Water rises in dams

The water level in dams has also risen due to continuous downpours in catchment areas. The Hub dam is nearing its full capacity as water inflow continues in the reservoir.

The dam’s spillways have been opened to release excess water.

“The capacity of the Hub dam is 339 feet, which has filled up,” an Irrigation Department executive engineer said, adding that a warning has been issued to residents in downstream areas to shift to safer places as spillways have been opened.

The water is flowing in the Ara­bian Sea through the Hub River, he added. All rivers were carrying huge flood water as catchment areas of the Nari, Bolan and other rivers were continuously receiving rainfall.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024