The recent spell of heavy rains and snowfall in various districts, including the capital Balochistan, has resulted in the tragic loss of nine lives due to accidents and incidents such as roof collapse.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) revealed that from February 27 to March 12, relentless rains and snowfall lashed several districts and caused significant damage to residential structures.
According to the PDMA notification, a total of 259 houses were completely destroyed while 1,040 suffered partial damage during the period.
The casualties occurred in several districts, including Quetta, Kharan, Kech, Barkhan, Chaman and Pishin, where incidents of roof collapse and other rain-related accidents claimed the lives of nine people. In addition, a heavy downpour led to the destruction of 80 fishing boats.
Going forward, the meteorological department has predicted continued rain and snowfall in various areas including Quetta, Chaman, Ziarat, Pashin, Kalat, Chagai, Sorab, Sabi, Nasirabad, Mastung, Nushki, Loralai, Harnai, Sherani, Zhob, Musa Khel, Kohlu, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah within the next 24 hours.
In response to the ongoing disaster, humanitarian efforts are underway in the affected districts with the delivery of essential supplies such as food, tents and other relief materials to help those affected by the adverse weather conditions.
Additionally, recent reports indicate that there was snowfall in Ziarat and Sanjawi on Tuesday night, leading to a drop in temperatures. In Quetta, heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, worsening the situation in the region.
The Meteorological Department has advised residents to expect intermittent rain in Quetta, Kallat and Nasribabad, among others, in the next twenty-four hours, stressing the need for continuous vigilance and preparedness amid persistent weather challenges.