QUETTA, July 8: The death toll from recent rains and floods climbed to 160 after 24 more bodies were found in different flood-hit areas of Balochistan, official sources said on Sunday.

The sources said that rescue teams were looking for 157 missing people.

Meanwhile, the road link to the blocked coalmine fields of Degari, Marwar and other areas was restored and relief goods were despatched to stranded coalmine workers on Sunday.

Reports reaching here from Jaffarabad district speak of pathetic situation there because authorities concerned had still not plugged the 240-foot-long breach in the Khirther canal. Water gushing out of the canal inundated a large area of the Jaffarabad district, marooning thousands of people.

Provincial Home Secretary Tariq Ayub told newsmen that flood situation had started improving in badly-affected areas of Jhal Magsi and Jaffarabad districts as floodwater was receding.

“Floodwater blocked in the Jaffarabad area because of construction of an embankment around Shahdad Kot, a town along the Sindh-Balochistan border, had started moving towards the Manchar Lake,” he said, adding that the Sindh government and officials concerned had been asked not to block the natural course of water.

“The dangerous situation in Jaffarabad area is over,” he said, adding that the water level had remained three to four feet after allowing its natural flow. However, he said, the Jhal Magsi area was still under deep water and there was no access to the township and its surrounding villages through the road. He said that necessary machinery and other equipment had been sent at the site to start work on roads.

In reply to another question, he said that power supply to coastal town of Pasni would resume from Iran in a couple of days.