Balochistan govt declares 'urban flood emergency' in Quetta

The Balochistan government has imposed an urban flooding emergency in the provincial capital, as the heavy downpours have been lashing out the province continuously, for weeks.

The government has also announced the closure of public and private schools in Quetta due to the situation. 

Several parts of Balochistan, including Makran and other coastal areas, were receiving heavy downpours accompanied by thunderstorms, resulting in 10 deaths after two more people, including a woman, were killed in a lightning strikes and roof collapse incident in the Kech district.

Following several incidents with torrential rain, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) imposed an ‘urban flood emergency’ in Quetta under section 3 of Balochistan Natural Calamity (Prevention and Relief Act).    

Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti chaired an online meeting, where his Principal Secretary Imran Zarqoon briefed the overall situation in the province and the rescue operation being dealt with by the government.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson Shahid Hameed Rind said that the holidays of all Quetta staff and officers were suspended.

On the other hand, the government also issued a notification in which the government ordered all public and private schools across the province to remain closed today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday).

However, the continuous heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms lashed several parts of the country, leading the death toll to 39, out of which 12 died on Sunday, in KP and Balochistan.