2011 Balochistan floods
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Balochistan floods started from the last week of February and continued till the first week of March. Balochistan province was already badly affected from last year's devasting floods
as UNHCR claims that 166,000 flood victims are still homeless in the province with 240 people still living in camps.
issued a weather advisory in which it warned that a Western Disturbance
over Iran
was likely to enter in Balochistan that would cause widespread rains with isolated heavy rainfalls over Balochistan for four days. The system entered Balochistan on 28 February and caused widespeard heavy rainfall in the province where as moderate rainfall elsewhere in the country. The system moved and entered India
on 5 March.
and other areas in northern and central Balochistan. Traffic between Ziarat
and Loralai via Sanjavi was suspended after heavy snowfall in the valley as four feet of snow fell in the hilly areas of Ziarat and about six inches in the town in 24 hours. At least 70 houses were washed away by hill torrents in Nushki and over a dozen houses collapsed in Huda and Khrotabad areas of Quetta
. Floodwaters entered a large number of houses. Parts of Chagai district were also affected. The Bour Nullah entering Nushki from Afghanistan
inundated thousands of acres of land in Dak area. At least 25 mud-houses were washed away in Chagai
tehsil. A bridge on the Quetta-Karachi
National Highway was washed away near Mastung.
On February 28 the provincial capital was lashed by strong hailstorms followed by heavy rainfall. During the six day wet spell the highest rainfall in 24 hours was 45 millimetres (1.8 in) that was recorded on March 1, 2011.
ordered the officials concerned to immediately send relief goods for the affected people. He said relief camps would be set up in government buildings for displaced people.
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
as UNHCR claims that 166,000 flood victims are still homeless in the province with 240 people still living in camps.
Meteorological history
The Pakistan Meteorological DepartmentPakistan Meteorological Department
The Pakistan Meteorological Department, also known as Pak Met Office, is a Government of Pakistan organization which works under the Ministry of Defence...
issued a weather advisory in which it warned that a Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by...
over Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
was likely to enter in Balochistan that would cause widespread rains with isolated heavy rainfalls over Balochistan for four days. The system entered Balochistan on 28 February and caused widespeard heavy rainfall in the province where as moderate rainfall elsewhere in the country. The system moved and entered India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 5 March.
Flooding and Impact
Hundred people were rendered homeless when a large number of houses were washed away by flash floods caused by torrential rain in QuettaQuetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
and other areas in northern and central Balochistan. Traffic between Ziarat
Ziarat
Ziarat is the capital of Ziarat District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at 30°22'47N 67°43'38E with an altitude of 2543 metres and is a famous holiday resort of Balochistan and nearly every trip from Karachi to Quetta stops at Ziarat...
and Loralai via Sanjavi was suspended after heavy snowfall in the valley as four feet of snow fell in the hilly areas of Ziarat and about six inches in the town in 24 hours. At least 70 houses were washed away by hill torrents in Nushki and over a dozen houses collapsed in Huda and Khrotabad areas of Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
. Floodwaters entered a large number of houses. Parts of Chagai district were also affected. The Bour Nullah entering Nushki from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
inundated thousands of acres of land in Dak area. At least 25 mud-houses were washed away in Chagai
Chagai
Chagai may refer to:* Chagai District, the largest district of Pakistan* Chagai Hills, the mountainous region north of Balochistan Province, Pakistan* Chagai, Pakistan, the capital of Chagai District*Chagai-I, the codename first nuclear weapon tests...
tehsil. A bridge on the Quetta-Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
National Highway was washed away near Mastung.
On February 28 the provincial capital was lashed by strong hailstorms followed by heavy rainfall. During the six day wet spell the highest rainfall in 24 hours was 45 millimetres (1.8 in) that was recorded on March 1, 2011.
Heavy precipitation during late February and early March
Heavy precipitation recorded during the six day wet spell of February 28 to March 5, 2011 in the province based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.| City | Rainfall (mm) | Rainfall (in) | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samungli | 93 | 4.0 | The highest rainfall during 24 hours was 47 millimetres (1.9 in). | |
| Quetta Quetta is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the... |
92 | 3.7 | The highest rainfall during 24 hours was 45 millimetres (1.8 in). | |
| Khuzdar Khuzdar Khuzdar or Khozdar is a town located in Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Khuzdar is the capital of Khuzdar District, which was created on 1 March 1974... |
86 | 3.3 | The highest rainfall during 24 hours was 33 millimetres (1.3 in). | |
| Kalat Kalat Kalat or Qalat is a historical town located in Kalat District, Balochistan, Pakistan. Kalat is the capital of Kalat District and is known locally as Kalat-i-Baloch and Kalat-i-Sewa.... |
74 | 3.0 | The highest rainfall during 24 hours was 32 millimetres (1.3 in). | |
| Zhob Zhob -Roads:Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair nowadays track passing through water streams and almost complete road is metalloid.... |
32 | 1.2 | The highest rainfall during 24 hours was 19 millimetre (0.748031496062992 in). | |
Response by the Pakistan Government
Minister for Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Babu Mohammad Rahim Mengal said a relief operation had been launched. The minister in charge of the PDMA visited the affected area in Nushki and said 200 blankets, 200 tents and food items had been sent to Nushki and Chagai districts. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam RaisaniNawab Aslam Raisani
Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani is the current Chief Minister of Balochistan.Aslam Raisani is the successor to the current Chief of Sarawan...
ordered the officials concerned to immediately send relief goods for the affected people. He said relief camps would be set up in government buildings for displaced people.
See also
- 2010 Pakistan floods2010 Pakistan floodsThe 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
- 2011 Balochistan earthquake
- List of floods in Pakistan