ISLAMABAD
Eighty districts across the country have been declared ‘calamity-hit’ by the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC).
Data issued by the NFRCC on Sunday mentioned that these districts include 31 in Balochistan, six in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), 17 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), three in Punjab and 23 in Sindh, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remains un-hit.
Moreover, it maintained that 33,046,329 people have been affected by flash floods in Pakistan. Of this affected population, 9,182,616 are in Balochistan, 51,500 in G-B, 4,350,490 in K-P, 4,844,253 in Punjab, 14,563,770 in Sindh and 53,700 in AJK.
According to the centre, there are 29 teams conducting a survey of damage assessment in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan, including Quetta, Pashin and Chaman.
In a statement, the NFRCC informed that from June 14 till yesterday (Sunday), 1,290 people have died, including 570 men, 259 women and 453 children.
In the last 24 hours alone, 26 people have lost their lives and 11 injured across the country due to flash floods.
Since June, floods have disrupted roads and railway networks all over the country.
In Balochistan, the M-8 motorway experienced land sliding in a 24km section of Wangu hills.
In K-P, the N-50 has been opened for traffic except for the broken section of the Sagu bridge, restoration work for which is currently underway, while the N-95 is blocked between Bahrain and Laikot.
In Sindh, the N-55 road is closed from Meher Johi Canal to Khairpur Nathan Shah as it is submerged in water.
Moreover, railway networks affected by floods include the Quetta to Taftan route in Balochistan, the Balochistan-Sindh line from Quetta to Sibbi to Habibkot, the Punjab-Sindh line from Hyderabad to Rohri to Multan and the Kotri to Lakhi Shah to Dadu route in Sindh.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) has been opened for light traffic after the restoration of the last portion of the road at Zaid Khar, which has now been cleared.
According to the NFRCC, it will take time for the road to be able to carry heavy traffic. However, light traffic vehicles have been allowed on the Babusar route for the transportation of fuel and essential commodities in G-B.
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is assessing the restoration of two-way traffic of heavy traffic vehicles along with the National Highway Authority (NHA).
Although the KKH is open for traffic with some limitations.
According to details, the Route from Thakot to Kayal Bridge is open both ways for all types of traffic while Kayal Bridge is open one-way for light and medium vehicles.
Furthermore, Zaid Khar is open one-way for light and medium vehicles, Uchaar Nullah is open both ways for all types of traffic (through diversion) and Sommer Nullah Bridge is open both ways for light traffic, while Route from Sazin to Khunjrab is open both ways for all types of traffic.
Commuters and cargo drivers are advised to drive with extreme caution while crossing the Uchhar Nullah, Kayal Bridge and Zaid Khwar areas.
The FWO teams are “working round the clock” for the restoration of heavy traffic throughout the length of the KKH, said the NFRCC.
