Recently, Pakistan experienced severe flooding after torrential monsoon rains hit Sindh and major portions of Balochistan in the initial days of July 2022. Many villages and urban centers had been flooded and wreaked havoc in various parts of Balochistan, causing roofs to collapse, damages to houses and dams, leaving several people dead and injured. As per Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 90 people lost their lives, 63 were injured, 1047 houses were damaged, 09 bridges were damaged and 556 livestock were killed.
Apart from the abovementioned damages, 16 small dams were also damaged. Quetta, Qilla Saifullah, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, Qamaruddin Kerez, Khushnoob, Chaman, Harnai, Zhob and Dera Bugti were the most affected areas of Northern Balochistan. Civil administration and PDMA started rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas. FC Balochistan (North) provided all out support to civil administration and PDMA in the execution of flood relief operations. Flood monitoring and relief centers were established by FC Balochistan (North) in each district of its area of responsibility. After assessment of initial damages, major relief activities were started by troops of Frontier Corps, a gist of which is appended below:
Rescue of Stranded People and Livestock. Immediate rescue parties were dispatched for the rescue of persons stranded in the flooded areas. Thousands were saved by rescue teams, shifted to safer places and the dead were recovered. Apart from saving humans, utmost efforts were also made to save livestock being the main livelihood of many poor people.
Provision of Medical Aid, Cooked Food and Fresh Drinking Water. Medical aid in the form of free medical camps was continuously provided. Displaced people were served with cooked food and fresh drinking water. Tents and other relief items were also provided to them.
Dewatering of Various Flooded Areas. Dewatering was carried out to stop further damages to houses. Due to damages to National Highways, transport was halted which resulted in the stoppage of provision of basic commodities of life. Thousands of ration bags were distributed among the needy people.
Reconstruction of Damaged Houses and Infrastructure. Surveys have been carried out to assess the damages and after preparation of area-wise damages report, reconstruction and maintenance of houses and other infrastructure has been initiated.
FC Balochistan (North) maintained its rich traditions of helping the people of Balochistan in the hour of need. Efforts are still underway to provide relief to the people affected by floods and to assist the civil administration in carrying out relief activities.
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