MANSEHRA/LOWER DIR/SHANGLA: Continuing to ravage infrastructure and public life and property across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the record monsoon rains and floods swept away houses, buildings, roads, bridges and crops in Mansehra, Kohistan, Shangla, Lower Dir, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and Bajaur districts on Friday.

Lower Kohistan district police officer Zulfiqar Jadoon said the downpour-induced flash floods destroyed buildings and shops in Dubair and Pattan bazaars, while search was under way for the four people, who were swept away by floodwaters in Dubair stream on Thursday.

The residents of Mahandri area in Kaghan valley survived deaths by the monsoon disaster as they moved out ahead of flooding. Landsides were also reported in the valley.

The flooding fears prompted the Balakot administration to close schools across the tehsil and ban motorists and transport users from entering Kaghan valley from Balakot and Babusar Top. The ban suspended traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan via the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

Residents say rains, flooding leave trail of destruction in Hazara region, Shangla, Dir

Heavy flooding triggered by torrential rains washed away a dozen houses, roads, suspension bridges, hospital buildings, watermills and mini power stations in parts of Shangla district.

The district disaster management authority said the flooded Kana, Khan Khwar and Indus rivers left a trail of destruction on a large scale.

The floodwaters damaged Karora hydropower station and Bisham-Swat Road, Karora-Ajmeer Road and many link roads and inundated the Karora rural health centre destroying machines, equipment, furniture and medicines.

The government declared an emergency in the district, while deputy commissioner Shangla Ziaur Rehman ordered the closure of schools for a day for the safety of students and staff members.

A portion of the Timergara-Peshawar Road was swept away by flash flood in Panjkora River near Zulam Bridge in Lower Dir district prompting the administration to divert traffic to the Kamrani Bypass Road.

The floodwaters uprooted power poles and trees along the riverbank suspending electric supply to Talash, Timergara and Balambat for long hours.

The administration closed the Balambat Bridge to traffic after water level in the Panjkora River increased alarmingly.

The floodwater destroyed several link roads in parts of the district and damaged furniture, goods and food by entering shops, school buildings, markets and slaughterhouses in Timergara.

Deputy commissioner Zubair Khan and other administration officers monitored flood situation in Chakdara, Timergara and Balambat areas and asked the residents to stay away from rivers and nullahs for own safety.

The Dera Ismail Khan district administration and Rescue 1122 said floodwaters wreaked havoc on infrastructure in Shorkot village on Dera Ismail Khan-Bannu Road, Mufti Mahmood Hospital on Daraban Road, Gomal Medical College, a food department godown, Pusha Bridge, CRBC Colony, Ratta Kulachi Sports Complex, wildlife zoo and Dera Township.

The rescue workers evacuated the patients and employees of the Mufti Mahmood Hospital in boats. They said they had so far shifted around 250 people, including women, children and elderly people, from Pasha Pul, Sago Pul, Hathala, Kanuri and Budh areas to safer places.

The Bajaur administration said heavy rains damaged houses, maize crops and vegetables, and roads in the district. However, no damage to public life was reported.

The Lakki Marwat district administration said the flood-hit roads were cleared of mud and sand with the help of tractors, while its officials distributed relief goods to the residents.

During a meeting of the relevant officials, deputy commissioner Fazal Akbar examined relief work and ordered coordinated efforts for the rehabilitation of flood victims.

The residents of Lakki city blocked the Lakki-Tajazai Road near the Dall Mills to protest a delay in the reconstruction of embankments washed away by flash floods and said they continued to be vulnerable to monsoon flooding.

(Correspondents Ghulam Mursalin Marwat, Muhammad Irfan Mughal and Anwarullah Khan contributed to this report.)

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2022