30 Drown, 20 Go Missing in Flash Floods in Kohlu, Barkan, Sibi

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: Around 30 people were drowned and more than 20 people are listed missing following heavy torrential rains and flash floods from hilly region washing away at least four villages in Barkhan District of Eastern Balochistan.

Heavy rains were also reported in nearby districts of Sibi and Kohlu where one of the seasonal rivers—Nari River—is carrying a flood of 120,000 cusecs in the downstream devastating many villages and human settlements in Kachhi Plains.

All the land routes linking the flood affected regions of three districts of Barkhan, Kohlu and Sibi disrupted making thousands of local residents marooned. With the disruption of land route, supply of relief goods suspended as the caravan was trapped in between, official sources confirmed in Sibi.

According to reports reaching here, torrential rains played havoc in the three districts of Balochistan as seasonal rivers broke its banks causing widespread floods in the downstream. At least four villages were washed away from the river beds in Barkan, official sources confirmed. Almost all the seasonal rivers in the region are in spate destroying standing crops and property of the people.

Around four thousands people had been affected in Kohlu and Barkhan due to flood, spokesman of Frontier Crops said.

In Barkhan, torrential rains caused flash flood in the area sweeping away over 50 people in strong currents in the seasonal river. There were very heavy rains thus hill torrents smashed everything its way in the downstream.

“We have recovered 30 dead bodies, including six women, from the flooded water in Barkhan and 20 others are still missing,” a Levies official told newsmen. Body of all the dead people were taken out and kept on the banks of the seasonal river for identification and burial by their relatives, officials said.

The affected people were living in tents and other temporary shelters within the banks of seasonal river and on higher ground in Barkhan which had over flowed due to heavy rains, official said.

The rescue teams were busy to retrieve the other 20 people swept away in flash flood. The flood also affected nearby areas where people moved to higher ground of the hills in order to avoid further human losses. The land route of Barkhan with other district was disrupted. It could not be restored till writing this report.

In Sibi, Talli bank and Nari River had breached in banks causing heavy flood in several villages including Talli village, Sultan Kot, Machi Kho, Sivi, Basti Palwan Khan, Chandio, Marri Kot, Ghaffar Kot, Mitari, Leyhri and Ghot Fateh Mohammed. Talli village was completely submerged in flood water. People are trapped and marooned in the flood and took refuge on top of their houses and mosques. They also took their animals to safer place following death of hundreds of cattle.

Nari River was discharging 120,000 cusec water at one place, sources informed. One can gauge the level of devastation in the floods caused by Nari River.

“Around 500 people are trapped or marooned in Talli area,” Deputy Commissioner Sibi, Shahid Masood said adding that four helicopters had been called for rescue work in the area and pull out  the trapped people. The DC reached the affected area along with relief goods and rescue workers. While talking to media he said that administration is inspecting the damages and human loses. “We will call Army and FC if needed.”

Talli Bridge was also washed away by hill torrents disconnecting the area from rest of the world.

“No relief work is being carried out only a single bulldozer is engaged in Lehri,” an affectee Shaukat Ali told this correspondent on phone from Talli area of Lehri Tehsil.

In Kohlu, Tanga dam had exploded due to which seven villages inundated and hundred of mud houses had been washed away. Three people suffered injuries in rain-related incidents and most of the people took refuge on top of the nearby hills.

Jaffarabad and Nasirabad Districts also received heavy rains and the low-lying areas were submerged in to the water. A local journalist Naseer Mastoi said dozens of mud houses were washed away but the downpour did not claim any human loss.

Spokesman of FC, Murtaza Baig said the helicopters could not move from Quetta because of inclement weather but FC personnel are present in various affected area where he say they are busy in relief efforts.

FC Maiwand Rifles had established a free medical camp in Barkhan and also distributing goods among the affectees, said Major Hasnain, in charge relief cell.

Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Hassan Baloch has said that two helicopters and six loaded trucks with relief goods had been dispatched to the Barkhan and Sibi.

Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani, expressed grief and sorrow on the precious human losses in flash floods in Barkhan and directed the local administration to take all measures for relief and assistance of affected people.

According to an official announcement, the Chief Minister had released Rs 1.5 million for Each Commissioner of Zhob and Sibi for undertaking relief operation for flood affected people.