QUETTA, Aug 8: Situation in the flood-affected areas of Bolan and Sibi remained grim with more villages inundated and thousands of mine workers still stranded in the Margat coal field.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has directed the local administration to make arrangements to rescue the miners of the Margat field, which was cut off from the Mach town after rains washed away roads. He said the required machinery should be arranged to save the workers.

According to official sources, 20 more villages were inundated near Sibi after breaches occurred in dykes around the villages following heavy rains in Ziarat, Harnai and other areas.

“The situation has not changed and a large number of people are still marooned in various villages,” Sibi DCO Shakil Ahmad Hashmi told Dawn, adding that more rains had been reported in the catchment area of Tali and Nari rivers, worsening the situation.

“The two rivers which were in high floods on Monday may rise further,” he said.

He said the administration was trying to restore road links so that food and relief goods could be sent to flood victims.

The DCO said thousands of small reservoirs built for storing rainwater in arid areas had been destroyed, adding that standing crop of cotton had been badly affected.

A heavy downpour in the Bolan district made the Bolan River rise further, affecting many villages.

Hundreds of mud-houses have collapsed in various villages.

The chief minister has sought a report about casualties and property damage in the affected areas.