13 killed in rain-triggered disasters in SW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains and snowfall that started Friday have caused major destruction in parts of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, leaving 13 people dead and a dozen others injured, local media reported on Tuesday.

Balochistan Minister for Information Zahoor Ahmed Buledi said that over 28,000 stranded people were rescued in various districts in the province, adding that relief operations were in progress and army helicopters were helping in distributing relief goods.

The minister said some 5,000 tents, food items and other necessary goods were sent to flood-hit areas and districts affected by snowfall.

Pakistan army, paramilitary Frontier Corps Balochistan and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) participated in the rescue and relief operations, he said.

Imran Zarkon, head of provincial disaster management authority, said that flash floods triggered by heavy rains and snowfall affected nine districts of the province, damaging infrastructure including bridges and roads in some districts.

He said the rain-triggered flash floods also washed away hundreds of mud houses and livestock.

According to the PDMA, Killa Abdullah district of the province was the most affected in rains and floods, where a state of emergency was declared by the provincial government on Saturday.

Major asset damage was reported in the district, with 1,970 houses having collapsed, 565 buildings partially damaged and 227 shops damaged, said PMDA.