Gwadar, the port city in Balochistan, has been declared “calamity-hit” after torrential rains led to flash floods, inundating most parts of the city. Balochistan’s interim Information Minister Jan Achakzai made this announcement on Thursday, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s data indicating over 183mm of rainfall in the last two days. The heavy rainfall has severely disrupted daily life and left hundreds of people homeless.
Achakzai stated that the caretaker Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki had approved a summary to declare Gwadar as a calamity-hit area in response to the alarming situation caused by the recent heavy rains.
Also Read: Learning from History: Preventing a Repeat of Rawalpindi’s 2001 Flood Disaster
The city continued to experience heavy showers for the third consecutive day, raising concerns of water heading towards parts of the city following breaches in flood protection bunds in Nagore.
The rain-producing system entered Balochistan on February 25, resulting in heavy downpours and windstorms in various parts of the province and upper areas.
Videos circulating online depicted the coastal town inundated with rainwater, forcing residents to evacuate their homes and businesses. In response to the record rainfall, the district administration in Gwadar declared a state of emergency.
PDMA Director General Jahanzaib Khan Ghorezai confirmed that rescue teams were actively participating in relief operations, with ambulances, modern equipment, and relief materials dispatched to the affected areas. Clean water and medicines were also being provided to Gwadar residents.
Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz noted that the intensity of the rains in Gwadar during the winter season is unusual. He highlighted that Karachi is expected to experience rain starting from March 1, while certain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may face torrential rain and the risk of landslides.
