Thousands of people have become homeless by torrential rains in Gwadar and other areas along the Makran coast. -Photo by APP

QUETTA The Balochistan government has declared the cyclone- and rain-affected district of Gwadar a calamity-hit area.

Hundreds of houses collapsed or were damaged by torrential rains in Gwadar and other areas along the Makran coast, rendering thousands of people homeless. Many areas of Gwadar town remained inundated on Tuesday — five days after torrential rains hit the area.

The administration is striving to pump out water from low-lying areas. According to initial estimates, about 5,000 houses were washed away or damaged and about 200,000 people were affected.

Five fishing launches capsized and over 60 others anchored in the harbour were badly damaged.The Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) claimed on Tuesday that power supply to Gwadar, Pasni and other affected areas had been restored.The road link between the port town and other parts of the country is yet to be restored despite hectic efforts being made by the army engineering unit, National Highway Authority and Frontier Works Organisation. “We are trying hard to repair the damaged portions of the Costal Highway,” an NHA spokesman said. But, he added, the road would be cleared by Wednesday afternoon.

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani visited Gwadar with a number of provincial ministers and after seeing the massive destruction declared it a calamity-hit area.

The chief minister ordered a comprehensive damage assessment. He claimed that precautionary measures taken by the provincial government had saved many lives. He said that even in developed countries such calamities caused losses of lives and property.

Talking to a group of affected people, he said the government had already released Rs60 million and initially Rs5,000 would be given to each affected family.