By Hamza Ameer Islamabad 27 August : The devastating monsoon rains flash floods, flash floods and cloud bursts have caused destruction across Pakistan with more than 70% of the country badly affected.Balochistan is still inaccessible to the rest of the country because of the torrential rains.
Balochistan has been cut off from all options of connectivity to travel routes, access routes and connections to the rest of the country since rail tracks, internet service and telecommunications are disrupted because of the massive destruction caused by the continuous flash floods and torrential rains in various regions including the capital city of the province Quetta.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTI).
the services have been affected in Quetta, Ziarat, Khuzdar, Loralai, Pishin, Chaman, Panjgur, Zhob, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah because of damage to optical fiber cables.
“Efforts are underway to end the astonishment.
PTA is keeping track of the situation and any future updates will be made available,” maintained PTA
Balochistan’s connections via air, roads, and train has also been cut off since relief efforts are difficult to get to the areas affected by flooding.
Disconnection of communications as well as Internet services has increased the adversity and the severity of the situation, as this is the third occasion in less than an entire week that cellular as well as internet service have been cut off.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) said that due to several cut-offs in the Ghotki, Khairpur and Sukkur districts, telecommunications services are being interrupted.
Another reason for the cutting of cables is due to of the utilization of heavy equipment for rescue and relief operations being carried out in Sukkur and its districts surrounding it.
“Due to the extensive flooding, the majority of the routes of underground cables are submerged as locals or relief workers tried to divert floodwater through digging trenches along paths and roads,” said Syed Aminul Haque the Federal Minister of IT and Telecom.
“The situation is grave and further incidents of this nature are likely to occur in the near future,”” he added.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) more than 937 people were killed in the last two weeks due to record rainfall, and around 33 million were forced to move.
The government has declared a flood emergency in the country following the fact that it received an average of 166.8 millimetres of rainfall in August that is at least 241 percent greater than the usual 48 millimetres each year.
Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces are among the hardest hit regions with flood waters threatening cities, towns and fields of agriculture.
The destruction is the most devastating in the history of the country.
More rain is anticipated in the areas of Sindh as well as Balochistan.
