ISLAMABAD: Heavy landslides at the Koh-e-Sulaiman range due to recent rains have caused suspension of traffic between Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). However, no loss of life was reported.
A large part of the N-50 National Highway (D. I. Khan to Kuchlak and Quetta) has been badly affected by the landslide at Dhana Sar in Balochistan. The Levies Force claimed that seven people were injured in the incident and were shifted to a hospital nearby. Moreover, four vehicles were also damaged in the incident.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) field employees and equipment have been mobilized to remove the landslide debris from the route per the directions of Communications Minister Asad Mehmood.
Captain (retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha, communications secretary and NHA chairman, keeps in touch with NHA field officers in Balochistan and KP. Shahid Ehsanullah, a member of the Balochistan Assembly, is in charge of the restoration operation and expresses optimism for the speedy traffic restoration.
Further heavy equipment has been requested from Zhob and Quetta, and the NHA workers and equipment are currently busily clearing the road of landslip debris. The impacted route has been opened for light traffic by NHA employees, and it will be fully reopened to all forms of traffic in 24 to 30 hours.
The commissioner and deputy commissioner have been asked by NHA Balochistan North General Manager Agha Inayatullah to stop traffic in Zhob and Saifullah. The N-70 National Highway (Qilla Saifullah-Multan), which passes through Loralai and DG Khan, has been recommended as an alternate route for those travelling to K-P.
The National Highway Administration (NHA) has urged travellers heading on that route to acquaint themselves with the weather before travelling. The rescue officials said the inclement weather was worsening in the Sulaiman Mountains.
Flood alert
At the Koh-e-Sulaiman range, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has issued a flood alert. Imran Qureshi, the director general of the Punjab PDMA, has requested prompt reporting of the situation from the deputy commissioners in DG Khan, Rajanpur, and Taunsa.
A report on the harm brought on by the most recent rains was also required, according to the PDMA spokesperson.
The PDMA DG instructed the deputy commissioners of the affected districts to immediately activate the district control room for rescue operations and flood reporting. “Put the district’s appropriate rescue teams on high alert. In an emergency, rescue efforts should be launched promptly.”
He noted that the provincial control room and the district emergency operations centres were all completely working around the clock. Qureshi continued, “The entire scenario is being monitored from the provincial control centre of the PDMA.”
The PDMA spokeswoman advised citizens to phone the organization’s helpline at (1129) to request assistance.
