CHITRAL: Flash floods caused by torrential rains have claimed another life in Chitral and destroyed more than 20 houses, three suspension bridges, many roads, and drinking water and irrigation schemes in different villages of the district.

After killing two women in Chitral’s Broze area on Thursday, the flooding swept away a man in Reshun village early on Friday.

Of the destroyed houses, 10 were swept away in Orghoch, five in Reshun, three in Kuragh and two in Charun. The hydro-power station in Reshun was closed down after floodwater inundated it and therefore, electric supply to Mastuj tehsil and some parts of lower Chitral was suspended.

The Chitral-Booni Road was washed away at five places inconveniencing commuters and motorists bound for their villages in the region for Eidul Fitr.

The Chitral-Garum Chashma Road was the worst affected as the flooding washed away its track measuring more than three kilometers. The floodwater also destroyed pedestrian route.

Chitral district council member-elect Mohammad Hussain demanded the immediate rehabilitation of Chitral-Garam Chashma Road by the Pakistan Army’s Engineers Corps saying the civil administration doesn’t have the capacity to do the work.

He told reporters here that if the road was not rebuilt without delay, then around Rs1 billion standing crop of potato would spoil in fields.

In Peshawar, the rain coupled with dust and windstorm brought the temperature down on Thursday to the relief to people troubled by hot weather during the last one week.

However, the rainfall caused power breakdown in most parts of the city for many hours.

Prolonged power suspension was reported in Nowshera too.

According to the Met Office, Peshawar district recorded one millimeter rain overall.

However, the rainfall in airport and Badbher areas was three millimeters each.

As for other parts of the province, Bannu received 43mm rain, Chirat 95, Chitral two, Dir 13, Timergara seven, Malam Jabba 21, Kalam and Balakot five Drush4, Kakol 20, Kohat two, Parachinar five and Saidu Sharif (Swat) 14.

Nisar Khan of the Met Office said the highest temperature recorded in the capital city on Thursday was 41 degree centigrade but the rain brought it down to 35 degree centigrade on Friday.

He forecast more rainfall with intervals in isolated places of the province until next Friday.

Heavy rains were also reported in Mansehra, Swat and Dir districts.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

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