3 dead in widespread floods; several villages submerged

QUETTA Three persons were killed in heavy floods while torrential rains have badly disrupted the relief operations in most of the flood-hit districts of Balochistan, submerging several villages in different parts of Nasirabad district. The rain started late Tuesday night and continued till Wednesday evening in Sibi, Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Dera Murad Jamali,Subhatpur, Dhaddar, and other adjoining areas. Several villages were submerged and people took shelter on the high spots and roof of their houses. Reports said that three persons, including two children, died and five others suffered injuries as the mud houses collapsed in Usta Mohammad and Dera Allahyar due to continuing rains on Wednesday. A nine-year-old Babu and Fariza, 5, died in Ghot Pyara Khan Umrani, a village of Usta Muhammad when their mud house caved in due to heavy downpours. Three others received injuries in the incident. A person died in Dera Allahyar while two others, including a woman, suffered multiple injuries as their house collapsed due to downpour. The injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. There was high floods in Nari River, a seasonal river bringing Sibi and Kachhi Plains under water and the discharge was recorded at 150,0000 cusecs. The flush water posed threats to the nearby villages of Sibi and Dhaddar. The train services had been restored in Balochistan after the disruption of seven days in the wake of repair to damaged parts of rail track from several spots. The trains left for Karachi and Rawalpindi on Wednesday morning. The track was washed away at 10 places in Sibi some seven days ago. The power supply in Dera Murad Jamali and nearby villages has also been disrupted and hundred of people rendered homeless. The Director General Provincial Management Authority, Hassan Baloch visited the affected areas. Talking to newsmen, he said that relief activities had started and the administration would take all steps for the rehabilitation of affected people. 'Government so far cannot estimate the losses caused by heavy rains and still busy in relief operations, he added. The recent flush water lashed the Baktiarabad, Nautal, Rabi Canal, Chattar, Tambo, Baba Kot, Manjo Shori and several other villages. Around 25,000 people were rendered homeless and living under open skies without having proper food and clean drinking water facility. The inhabitants of Jaffarabad also complained for insufficient relief operation. The situation in Kohlu and Barkhan stated to be better as the relief goods and medicines were being distributed properly among the affectees. However, people were demanding help for reconstruction of their houses. On the other hand, Abdul Sattar Edhi initiated a relief campaign in Quetta on Wednesday for the flood victims of Balochistan. He alongwith his daughter started the campaign from Mizan Chowk, a central point of provincial capital of Quetta. Talking to media, Abdul Sattar Edhi said that around 5,000 flour sacks had already been sent to the affected areas and in the second phase after collecting the money he would distribute cash among the victims. He appealed to the people to come forward for the help of flood victims in this juncture of need.

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