Catastrophe on M5: All Six Lanes Obliterated, Vital Link to Balochistan Severed

In a catastrophic turn of events, all six lanes of the critical M5 RCD Highway near Hub, Balochistan, were completely obliterated on Monday morning by a fresh and devastating breach. This vital artery, the sole land link connecting Karachi to the expansive province of Balochistan, has been utterly severed, grinding all traffic to a halt and leaving thousands of vehicles stranded indefinitely.

Eyewitnesses and officials report that the colossal breach, occurring close to the Hub district, was likely triggered by intense downpours that caused a nearby nullah to burst its banks.

The sheer force of the floodwaters was enough to tear through the entire width of the highway, leaving behind a gaping chasm where a bustling six-lane road once stood. The dramatic scene underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the face of nature's raw power.

The immediate fallout has been immense.

Drivers attempting to traverse the crucial route found themselves facing an insurmountable obstacle, with queues of vehicles stretching for miles on both sides. Among those ensnared are NATO containers and other commercial transport essential for regional trade, highlighting the significant economic disruption this incident will cause.

This isn't just a local inconvenience; it's a major blow to supply chains and connectivity across the region.

Authorities, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), have swiftly responded, dispatching heavy machinery and personnel to the site.

Commissioner Kalat division, Dawood Khan Khilji, is personally overseeing the restoration efforts, emphasizing the urgency of re-establishing this indispensable link. However, the scale of the damage suggests that repairs will be a monumental and time-consuming undertaking.

This latest collapse of the M5 is a stark reminder of a persistent and dangerous problem.

The RCD Highway, notorious for its susceptibility to breaches and washouts during monsoon seasons, has been compromised multiple times in recent memory. While the federal government had previously approved substantial funds for the construction of a permanent, robust bridge over the problematic nullah, local sources reveal that work on this crucial long-term solution has yet to commence.

This inaction now has severe repercussions, underscoring the critical need for timely execution of infrastructure projects.

As recovery operations get underway, the focus remains on emergency repairs to restore some semblance of connectivity. However, the recurring nature of these incidents demands a more permanent and resilient infrastructure solution to safeguard this lifeline for Balochistan and prevent future disruptions of such magnitude.