Army Dog Center in Dalbandin

Dalbandin is the main town of Chagai in western Balochistan, a dry desert district with the Saindak project to the west, Nokkundi beyond, and the long road to Taftan on the Iranian border. Summers are extremely hot, and sandstorms can reduce visibility to a few metres.

Situations we are asked about in Dalbandin

• Vehicles or fuel taken from a stop on the long desert highway.
• A traveller who left a transport stop and did not arrive at the next.
• Theft from shops and compounds in the town.
• Livestock lost in open desert far from a village.

In desert country, wind removes marks from the ground very quickly, and distances between settlements are measured in hours, not minutes. A dog follows scent rather than tracks, but the trail does not last, so early reporting is vital. Cover the exact spot if you can, keep animals away from it, and note the direction of the wind.

Tell the police on 15 about serious crimes. Then call 0300-5780720, which is answered at all hours. Give us your exact location, the nearest road or landmark, and the time of the incident.

Chagai is a land of very long distances. A vehicle can leave a stop at dusk and be hundreds of kilometres away by morning, so useful details are the direction of travel, the colour and type of vehicle and any passengers. For someone missing on foot, say how much water they had and what they wore. Sandstorms can stop any search, so write down the time the wind started or stopped.