52 killed, around 700,000 affected in Pakistan floods

Floods also destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of crops, officials said today.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has announced a relief and rehabilitation package of 2,600 million rupees for the flood victims but officials say the rescue operations and rehabilitation of families could take months to complete.

Akbar Durrani, an official of the provincial disaster management authority said the monsoon rains had broken a 30-year-old record.

On September 11, the meteorological department recorded 432 millimetres of rain.

"The floods caused by rains have led to the most devastation in the Jhal Magsi, Jafferabad and Naseerabad districts of the province which have been declared calamity hit," the official said.

Durrani said the flash floods had damaged crops spread over 350,000 acres of land in 13 districts.

Baluchistan is already facing an uphill battle due to a violent insurgency by separatists while militants have been involved in targetting minority Shia Muslims.

Durrani said 22 people have died in Naseerabad alone and eight in Jafffarabad. The remaining casualties were reported from other parts of the province.