Pakistani army joins rescue effort to help storm victims

Source: CCTV.com | 06-29-2007 12:35

Villagers paddle boats over the flood water in Jhal Magsi Balochistan, some 480kms (298 miles) from Karachi, after a tropical storm hit coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan June 28, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer (PAKISTAN)

Pakistan's military has joined efforts to help the 800,000 people affected by the recent tropical cyclone. With the onset of the rainy season in South Asia, severe weather has already killed about 400 people in Pakistan and India.

The cyclone struck Pakistan's southwest Baluchistan province on Tuesday, killing 25 people.

It comes just three days after a storm battered the nation's biggest city, Karachi, which left about 230 people dead.

Subsequent floods have washed away stretches of road and several bridges, bringing down communications and power supplies. Floods have severed a gas pipeline, cutting supplies to the provincial capital, Quetta.

The military has sent aircraft including 14 helicopters to reinforce civilian rescue and relief operations although the rain has prevented much flying, leaving many areas still cut off.

The city of Turbat in the southwest of the country and near to the Iranian border, is considered to be one of the hardest hit areas.

The city's mayor says about 150,000 people are stranded. Some are stuck on rooftops, without water or food and in sweltering temperatures of over 40 degrees centigrade.

Helicopters have been sent to the stricken area to air-drop urgent relief aid. One army officer says they have rescued more than 600 families so far.

A battalion of engineers has been sent to one of the largest dams in the area, where water has reached a critical level.

Editor:Du Xiaodan