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| Monday, 14 February 2005 |
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Flooding in Pakistan kills 250, more feared dead after new avalanches QUETTA, Pakistan, Sunday (AFP) At least 250 people were killed in heavy flooding in southwestern Pakistan, officials said Sunday, while 2,000 others were missing and tens of thousands more were homeless. Another 40 were meanwhile feared dead in a new series of avalanches in the north of the country, where more than 50 people had already been confirmed killed by the snow, they said. The dead in flooded southwestern Baluchistan province included 80 people whose bodies were recovered after a dam burst late Thursday. The remainder came from six other districts inundated by around 10 days of heavy rain. "We have confirmed reports that 250 people have died in Baluchistan due to floods," the provincial chief minister's media consultant, Raziq Bugti, told AFP. More than 2,000 people were missing, while 40,000 had lost their homes in Lasbella, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Awaran, Ketch and Panjgoor districts, Bugti said. Pakistan's air force, navy and army have mounted a massive relief operation in Baluchistan to rescue people and provide them with shelter, medical aid, clean drinking water and food. Paramilitary troops, police and private relief organisations were also taking part. President Pervez Musharraf flew over the area Saturday and announced compensation of 100,000 rupees (1,694 dollars) to each family that has lost a member. He promised to help the affected people rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the flooding. The heavy rain caused the Shadi Kor dam near the town of Pasni to collapse late Thursday, washing away entire villages, roads and bridges. The 25-metre-high (83-foot), 147-metre-long irrigation dam was built in 2003. While Pakistan's south was battered by rain, its north was suffering from heavy snowfalls. Around 40 people were feared dead after two avalanches late Saturday in the mountainous district of Abbottabad, police said. "About 35 people are feared dead in Dubair village of Kohistan district where four houses had been buried under snow and rocks," Abbottabad police chief Amin Hashim told AFP. "Bad weather has prevented rescue teams reaching there, but we are trying hard to be there as soon as possible," Hashim said. Another avalanche fell on a home in nearby Phool Kot and buried eight people, he said. Two had been dug out alive, three bodies were recovered and three people were missing under the snow and rubble, he said. Police said Saturday that 46 people were killed in three avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and scores of houses had been buried. Another eight people were killed in Pakistan's northern Astore valley by a falling mass of snow and rocks late Friday, they said. More than 60 other people have been killed elsewhere in Pakistan since the start of a cold and rainy snap on February 3. |
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