Heavy rains and snowfall kill more than a hundred people

Islamabad (AsiaNews) – More than a hundred people died and hundreds more went missing after exceptionally bad weather—the worst in 16 years—hit Pakistan.

Heavy rains caused a large dam to burst near Pasni, a coastal town in south-western Balochistan Province. At least five villages were completely washed away when water burst the 35 m (115 ft) high and 300 m (1,000 ft) long embankment of the Shadikor dam that was built just two years ago.

At least 20,000 people have been affected by the emergency situation.

About 3,000 troops from the army, navy, coastguard and civil emergency organisations have been called in to help in rescue operations.

Balochistan is an arid region and the heavy rains took the population by surprise. Some cars, trucks and buses were swept into the Arabian Sea by the flood water as they drove along a newly built highway in the Pasni region.

Many people moved to higher ground or stood on roofs waiting for help, but helicopters delivering food, medicine and tents have had to drop supplies from the air in places where they cannot land.

The torrential rain and snowfall have also claimed dozens lives elsewhere in Pakistan over the past week, with many more people reported injured and missing. Most of the fatalities were caused by avalanches, flash floods or collapsing roofs.

Northern areas, where the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges meet, have been cut off, with roads buried under several feet of snow and the Chitral valley particularly badly affected.

President Pervez Musharraf expressed his grief for the deaths and said that all resources have been mobilised to provide rescue and relief to the affected people. He said all relevant institutions of the country including the armed forces have been employed to provide assistance to the affected areas.

Pakistan's Senate set up an Emergency Relief Fund. All senators have pledged one month salary to the fund. Similarly, all grade 17 officers and above will also donate into to this fund.

• pakistan
• baluchistan
• pasni
• bad
• weather
• destructions
• rain
• snowfall
• flooding
• himalaya
• rescue
• relief