Balochistan’s road and rail links with Sindh and Punjab have been snapped with floodwaters flowing over the railway track and road.
At least 10 people, including women and children, were killed in flood-related incidents.
The water is moving towards Usta Mohammad, Gandakha and other areas downstream after devastating vast areas in Rojhan Jamali, the hometown of former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
Jaffarabad’s deputy commissioner has declared an emergency and a large number of families are leaving Usta Mohammad and Gandakha.
Thousands of houses have been washed away in Dera Allahyar, Rojhan Jamali, Sohbatpur and other areas which are under several feet of water.
“Four tehsils of Jaffarabad district are completely inundated,” Nasirabad Commissioner Sher Khan Bazai told Dawn.
Over 150,000 people have been evacuated from Dera Allahyar and other areas.
The commissioner said a large number of people, including families displaced by floods from Jacobabad and other area of Sindh, were in the affected zone of Balochistan.
Thousands of people who could not be taken to other areas have taken shelter on the roofs of their houses in Dera Allahyar and Rojhan Jamali. At least 1,500 houses have collapsed in the towns.
“The traditional fort-like house and guest-houses of Zafarullah Jamali and the tomb of Mir Jaffar Khan Jamali are also under water,” Fayyaz Ahmed, a resident of the area, said, adding that parts of the house had been damaged. The family of the former prime minister had left Rojhan Jamali.
Troops have evacuated about 300 people with the help of boats and a helicopter.
“We need at least six helicopters to rescue the people marooned in the floodwaters in different parts of Dera Allahyar and Rojhan Jamali,” Deputy Commissioner Saeed Jamali said.
Most of the displaced people are living in the open in Dera Murad Jamali where temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
“We have distributed tents among 780 flood-affected people and set up six tent villages in Dera Murad Jamali and more will be set up soon,” Brig Tahir told journalists.
Official sources said flood torrents entered Jaffarabad from three directions.
About 350,000 people of Jaffarabad district have been shifted to Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi and Quetta. Over 300,000 people had earlier moved to Dera Murad Jamali and Sibi from Sindh.
The sources said hundreds of thousands of affected people were starving because the local administration did not have resources to help them.
There are also reports of an outbreak of disease, because people have been forced to consume contaminated floodwater.
The Jaffarabad deputy commissioner said floodwaters entered the area from Jacobabad after a 200-feet breach in the Saim canal. He said some portions of the Dera Allahyar bypass were under eight feet of water.
He said the floodwaters would mount pressure on the banks of the Khirthar and Begari canals. Irrigation officials and local people are strengthening dykes to save Usta Mohammad and other areas.
The family of Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali has also moved out of Usta Mohammad.
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