LOC14:02
11:02 GMT
KUN0030 4 GEN 0199 KUWAIT /KUNA-EYZ1
GEO-PAKISTANI-FLOOD-RAINS
Over 160 fell prey to deadly weather disaster in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (KUNA) - More than 160 people have been killed
across the country and thousands rendered homeless in the heaviest
rains in more than a decade, which caused a newly built dam to burst
and prompting flash flood, provincial officials said Saturday.
The Dam burst disaster, torrential rains, snowfall and avalanches
have wrecked havoc particularly in the North-West Frontier (NWFP) and
Southwestern Baluchistan provinces, killing more than 160, wounding
around 50 and rendering homeless to thousands, an official Riaz
Chauhdary at Crisis Management Cell told KUNA.
On Thursday Shadi Kaur Dam, only 40 kilometers from the Pasni town in
Baluchistan, burst, leaving the town completely inundated and
affecting 25,000 to 30,000 people. The dam was built on the region's
major river and, according to historians, it devastated the huge army
of Alexander the Great after flash floods.
The flood water swept away at least five villages including Pasni and
Ormara, collapsed dozens houses, and have caused severe damage to the
communication and transport infrastructure. The Provincial Minister for Tourism and Gwadar Development
Authority, Syed Sher Jan Baluch, talking to reporters in Quetta, the provincial
capital, said five villages of over 5,500 people are still under
water.
He said thousands of people had been rendered homeless with about two
dozen villages, home of more than 7,000 people, washed away by the
dam water, adding that at least 80 bodies have been found while 400
to 500 people are missing.
Following weather disaster a huge relief operation has been launched
with 4,000 military personnel backed by 11 C-130 planes and
helicopters participating in the rescue operations.
The minister said planes are taking relief goods, including tents,
blankets, cloths and foodstuff for the affected people.
Minister Sher Jan Baluch said more than 1,000 people had been rescued
in Pasni and adjacent areas. He said relief work is in progress and
affected people are being moved to safe areas.
Newspapers reports said four bridges connecting Quetta and Karachi
have collapsed. They said another major reservoir in the district of
Gwadar is overflowing with its water level at three inches above the
danger level.
They added that the authorities are keeping a close watch on the dam
to avert a Shadi Kaur Dam type disaster and have moved most of the
people to higher places.
The situation in NWFP is also bad. There are reports of more than 40
casualties with hundreds missing and several injured. Over 157 heads
of cattle had been killed due to severe cold. Elsewhere in Pakistan,
newspapers have reported some 30 deaths.
Meanwhile, some reports suggested that 30 army and paramilitary
personnel are missing near the Pakistan-Afghan border and bad weather
has hampered search operations. (end)
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KUNA 121402 Feb 05NNNN