QUETTA: Heavy monsoon rains continued to lash northern and eastern Balochistan on Wednesday, causing flash floods, landslides and widespread damage.

Link roads have been washed out, and traffic on highways has been suspended, with the result that the provincial capital, Quetta, has been cut off from many district headquarters.

Although Quetta has not received heavy rain, the surrounding areas have been severely affected. In Hanna Urak valley, flash floods and overflowing seasonal streams have caused significant losses, with many mud houses damaged and orchards affected. Apple orchards have been particularly hard hit.

Reports indicate that a large area in Zindra has been flooded after the Zindra dam was breached in the Ziarat area. Roads linking Ziarat to Quetta and other areas have been badly damaged, suspending all traffic. In Zindra, mud houses collapsed, leaving many homeless.

Monsoon rains were also reported in other areas of the province, including Loralai, Qila Saifullah, and Kohlu. Landslides have been reported on the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan highway, suspending traffic for several hours.

In Nasirabad district, a 10-year-old boy was killed and another injured when the roof of a house collapsed. Monsoon rains have created an urban flood-like situation in Dera Murad Jamali and other towns, with rainwater entering human settlements.

Relief Commissioner and Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan, Jahanzeb Khan, visited the flood-stricken area of Hanna Urak and was briefed on the ongoing restoration and mitigation efforts.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2024