Quetta, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Balochistan province is facing a dire humanitarian situation as torrential rains and flash floods continue to batter the region for weeks. The provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) has announced that the death toll has risen to nine, with new fatalities reported in the past 24 hours. This comes amid reports of hundreds of families being displaced and vast areas of farmland being lost.
Casualty figures and details of the incidents
According to the agency’s statement, the latest deaths were recorded in the Loralai region, where two children drowned in the raging floodwaters. Reports also indicate that approximately 12 other people, including women and children, were injured when roofs and walls of dilapidated houses collapsed in the Loralai and Zhub districts.
Since the storm began on March 20, the causes of death have varied, including drowning, lightning strikes, and building collapses. This reflects the severity of the weather disturbances affecting the region.
Massive destruction of infrastructure and property
The rains caused extensive damage to property and livestock, with initial reports indicating that at least 150 homes were affected in the districts of Kashi, Zhub, Qala Abdullah, and Harnay.
Of these properties, 28 homes were completely destroyed, while 122 sustained partial damage.
The Kashi district suffered the most damage, with approximately 100 mud-brick houses alone affected. As a result, residents were forced to flee to safer areas amidst harsh weather conditions.
Paralysis in transportation and agricultural losses
The crisis extended beyond the destruction of homes, impacting the transportation and agricultural sectors. Floods blocked highways and secondary roads in Harnai and Kohlu, isolating numerous villages and hindering aid delivery. In Zhub and Dera Bugti, thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds destroyed strategic crops, primarily wheat, resulting in losses estimated at millions of rupees. In Nasirabad, Sui, and Jal Magsi, residents reported significant livestock deaths and a complete power outage over the past 48 hours, exacerbating the suffering of displaced families.
Rescue teams are currently working to clear roads and provide urgent relief, while the meteorological department warns of continued rainfall. This threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis in one of Pakistan’s poorest regions.
