QUETTA: Rains and floods continued to devastate Sindh and Balochistan, killing 36 people in the southern parts of the country during the last 24 hours, while flashflood swept away a major gas pipeline on Friday in Balochistan.
At least 30 persons died and hundreds others have been injured in rain-related incidents in various parts of Sindh.
In Khairpur rooftop of a house collapsed leaving four persons dead. In another rain-related incident in Larkana seven persons including a mother and her daughter lost their lives.
Moreover, five children were drowned while swimming in a canal in Tando Allahyar. Local divers saved three children, while two others were died in the incident.
A continued rainfall for two days’ in Shikarpur made a waterway for boats running from Ghanta Ghar Chowk of the city to the station, according to local sources.
Meanwhile, 6 more lives lost in rain-related incidents in Balochistan. Deaths were reported in Quetta, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar and other areas. Heavy rains and flash floods also continued to batter Lasbela, Sibi, Zhob, Loralai, Bolan, Khuzdar, Kalat, Dera Murad Jamali, Noshki, Kharan and other districts, damaging roads and houses and rendering more people homeless.
In Bolan district, flooding in Bolan river washed away a 24-inch-wide gas pipeline pasÂsing under the riverbed near Bibi Nani area, suspending gas supply to Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat, Pishin, Ziarat and other towns.
SSGC officials confirmed the incident and said efforts were being made to link the pipeline to a narrower 12-inch pipeline to restore gas supply. However, replacing the damaged pipeline might take at least three to four days after floodwater recedes, they said.
Official sources said all four major highways — Quetta-Karachi, Quetta-Sukkur, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan — linking Balochistan with Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were still blocked due to heavy landslides and floods.
Heavy boulders that fell on Fort Munro-Dera Ghazi Khan and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan highways after the landslides could not be removed, leaving hundreds of people stranded. Several trucks carrying fruits, vegetables and other goods have also been stuck for the last two days.
Security officials said up to 10km of the highway had been affected and removing the boulders and heavy mud might take more than a week. The railway track connecting Quetta with the rest of the country has also not been cleared yet.
