QUETTA: About Rs 80 million have been released for the rescue and relief operation in the rain-battered areas of Balochistan, said Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan Tahir Minhas on Tuesday.
Talking to APP here, he said that flash flood triggered by the torrential rains played havoc in northern and eastern Balochistan, however provincial government, soon after the calamity launched relief operations.
About Rs 70 million, released as an immediate amount to PDMA for the flood affectees, while about 10 million were announced for the Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts, the most affected districts of Balochistan, he added that although the intensity and damages inflicted by the floods were massive yet we have not approached the UN and other donor organizations and continued on helping masses on our own.
Expressing his concern over the plight of the people in Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts, he said that intrusion of fresh torrents from Kandkot-Kashmor areas of Sindh into these districts has raised the water level, causing further devastation and rendering tens of thousands of families homeless.
While giving the details of the food and non-food items dispatched to the flood-ravaged regions, DG PDMA said that about 742 metric tons of food items have so far been distributed among the thousands of families in affected areas.
The 4200 tents, 4600 blankets, 100 pairs of shoes, 500 jerry canes, and 105 items of first aid cartons have also been delivered,he maintained.
Focal person on floods and Secretary Information Technology, captain (r) Akbar Hussain Durrani told to APP that today (Tuesday) he along with the secretaries of Irrigation, Health, P&D, Communication and works and Livestock visited Naseerabad division to monitor the rescue and relief efforts.
About 0.6 million people have been affected by the recent flash flood caused by the torrential rains.
Initial reports has suggested that 28 people has lost their lives alone in Naseerabad while, we fear, there might be many causalities. Some other official sources told that death toll in Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts have crossed 100.
Sources maintained that thousands of people still marooned in the flood water and waiting to be rescued. About 7,000 cusecs of fresh torrents has entered Naseerabad and Jaffarabad Sindh which has risen the level of water to seven feet, playing havoc over a vast area.
The irrigation sources told in view of the surge in the water, four cuts have been made in Dera Allah Yar bypass to divert the flow of water to low-lying areas.
Thousands of families have taken shelter on the banks of roads and canals in Naseerabad and Jaffarabad after floods washed away their houses.
Data of losses caused by the recent spate of rains has suggested that crops on 24866 acres of land destroyed while 3900 houses were completely swept away and 1654 were partially damaged, said focal person on floods.
He maintained that under three-prong strategy, rescue and relief activities were in full swing in the rain- hit areas.Six helicopters, 18 boats were in the rain-battered areas to rescue the trapped masses.
Provincial education minister while talking to APP said that it was huge catastrophe that hit tens of thousands of families in northern and eastern Balochistan, however provincial government in collaboration with Army and FC has initiated efforts to mitigate the sufferings of the calamity-stricken people.
The response from the UN and other organization was zero during the recent floods, he deplored.
Train service connecting Balochistan to other provinces has already been suspended, since the flash floods ravaged the region. The flash floods have inundated the portion of railway track linking Balochistan with other provinces.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Mohamamd Asam Raisani has reiterated that MPAs should release amount from their MPA funds to the flood battered people of the province.
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