Pakistan: Schools shut in Balochistan as rain death toll crosses 770

Islamabad: The devastating rainfall and floods forced the closure of schools in the worst-hit province of Balochistan. At least nine more people lost their lives in rain-related incidents recently, taking the rain-related death toll to 225.

The provincial government has announced to close all educational institutions following a fresh warning of downpours and flash floods. All government and private educational institutes in Balochistan will remain closed from August 22 to August 27, according to local authorities.

At least 777 people have lost their lives and 1300 have been injured across Pakistan since the monsoon season began in mid-June, the National Disaster Management Authority said. More than 200 people lost their lives in Balochistan, 216 in Sindh, 151 in Punjab, 149 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 35 in AJK and nine in Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy monsoon rains and subsequent floods across the country have destroyed 176,436 houses (115,563 partially and 60,873 fully damaged) and led to the deaths of 503,648 livestock.

Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cancelled his tour of four European countries “in view of calamities across Pakistan caused by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and flooding, as well as heavy damages to lives and property”, the foreign office said. Bilawal Bhutto was scheduled to visit Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway from August 22 till August 26. The visits would be rescheduled at mutually agreed dates in consultation with the host governments, the foreign ministry said.

PM and Army Chief discuss flood relief operations

Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday discussed the flood situation, and rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Chairman NDMA. Pakistan’s army chief called the top military commander in Balochistan Lt Gen Asif Ghafoor and directed him to assist and support the provincial and district administrations in flood relief operations. The flooding in several districts in Balochistan has disconnected the province from the rest of the country, as key roads and highways remained submerged and blocked for the last four days.

Relief efforts

The damaging floods prompted the military, navy, and air force to mobilise their personnel and assets to assist in civilian relief operations in the province, evacuating thousands of stranded people and delivering food and relief items to flood-victims families. During the last 24 hours, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) rescue teams have distributed 1000 cooked food packets as well as tents and rations in flood-hit regions. Pakistan air force and navy have also set up field medical camps to provide medical support to the affected people.

NDMA has dispatched truckloads of emergency relief convoys for flood-affected people. Some 35 trucks filled with food items were sent to Sindh province to meet the needs of 84,000 for the next seven days. The disaster relief organization also sent food bags for 12,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and relief assistance materials including tents, tarpaulins, and mosquito nets.