QUETTA: The provincial capital and several towns and cities of northern Balochistan experienced heavy winter rains, along with hailstorm, on Friday. The downpour dropped temperatures, prompting people to retrieve their warm clothes.

One person was killed when lightning struck the Chashma Kanbi area of tehsil Zehri in Khuzdar district during heavy rain and thunderstorm. He was identified as Abdul Qadir.

The heavy rain also caused urban flooding in Quetta and surrounding areas. Rainwater inundated various localities, including Sariab, Wahdat Colony, Pashtoonabad, Brewery Road, Joint Road, Railway Colony, Jail Road and many other areas.

The water entered dozens of homes, forcing the residents to flee to safer places. Many mud houses on the outskirts of Quetta were damaged.

Almost all roads in Quetta were flooded as drains and sewerage systems overflowed, with filthy water flowing through the streets.

Causes flooding in Quetta, surrounding areas; one killed by lightning

Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, the commissioner of Quetta Division and administrator of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation, visited the affected areas with water pumps, sanitary workers and other officials.

The pumps were used to drain water from the affected areas, while sanitary staff cleared streets in the main city.

Heavy rains and thunderstorms were also reported in Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Loralai, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Ziarat, Duki, Zhob, Khanozai, Muslim Bagh, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Noshki and several other towns and cities across the province.

Reports from other areas suggested significant disruption to road communication in northern Balochistan, with traffic affected on the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan and Quetta-Chaman highways.

Several mud houses have also collapsed in these areas, according to reports.

Abdul Wahid Shawani in Khuzdar also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024