KHYBER: Torrential rains played havoc in parts of Tirah valley as flash floods washed away roads and damaged shops on Tuesday.

Residents and shopkeepers in Lar Bagh Markaz, the main trading centre of the valley, told Dawn that heavy rainfall started around midday, and continued for at least three hours.

They said they didn’t witness such a heavy downpour in the region during the last five or six decades.

They said flash floods triggered by the deluge hit shops in Lar Bagh, New Bagh, Pir Mela and Bar Bagh bazaars, damaging goods worth millions of rupees.

Haji Sher Mohammad, president of Tirah traders’ association, told Dawn that shopkeepers were hit hard by the flash floods.

He said at least two bridges in Lar Bagh Markaz and Markazi Bagh were also damaged, disrupting traffic to and from the main market to the adjoining areas.

“The gushing rainwater washed away at least two cars and brought down steel structures of over 40 shops,” he added.

Haji Shareef, another trader, told Dawn that the rains also hit the adjoining localities of Adamkhel, Malakdinkhel, Bar Qambar and Shalobar with rainwater entering the Lar Bagh Markaz from Adamkhel side.

He said he had never seen such a heavy downpour and flash floods in the Tirah valley during his lifetime, which terrified the residents. He blamed encroachments by shopkeepers along the main stream running through the main trading centre for causing the rainwater to enter shops.

Nauroz Khan, a Malakdinkhel resident, said the rain also damaged standing crops in the region, causing financial losses to farmers.

He said flash floods washed away a portion of the road leading to Tirah Type-D Hospital, besides damaging many link roads.

He said that residents were awaiting help from the district administration.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2024