QUETTA: Heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and hailstorm battered Balochistan, including the provincial capital Quetta, on Monday afternoon, flooding low-lying areas and intensifying the cold.
The Meteorological Department had earlier forecast rain and hail for Quetta and several parts of the province. As predicted, torrential downpours with strong winds hit Quetta along with Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, and other districts. Rain and hail were also reported in Chagai, where hailstones blanketed the ground in white.
The intense rainfall submerged low-lying areas in Quetta and elsewhere, while swollen streams and drains caused severe disruption to movement, making it difficult for residents to travel from one place to another. The sudden change in weather brought a sharp drop in temperatures, after several days of warmer conditions across the province.
In Quetta’s areas including Sariab and Hazarganji, rainwater accumulated on roads, creating problems for commuters. Blocked drains led to sewage and dirty water entering streets and homes, exposing poor sanitation conditions—despite earlier claims by the cleaning company and local administration that Quetta’s cleanliness situation had improved.
