CHITRAL: A flash flood caused by glacial outburst on Wednesday washed away the only approach road of Yarkhoon valley here inundating vast agricultural land.

MPA from Mastuj area Syed Sardar Hussain Shah told Dawn that more than 15,000 local residents had lost contact with lower parts of the district after the destruction of road by the flash flood.

He feared food shortage in the valley and said the people of Baroghil valley already faced such a situation. “The situation is worsening as water is covering more areas,” he said.

The lawmaker criticised the food department for failing to transport wheat to its godowns in Yarkhoon Lusht and Baroghil areas and feared that the local residents would face famine if necessary measures weren’t taken without delay.

He said more rains would cause glacial lake outbursts in the area increasing the misery of the local population.

THREE COMMIT SUICIDE: Three people, including two girls, committed suicide here by jumping into the river on Tuesday and Wednesday. A boy and girl jumped into the river in Wardap Drosh village.

A local police official identified the deceased as Anis Ahmad of Muldeh Chitral and Shahria Naz of Wardap Drosh.

He claimed that the two were friends and got together near the river when their cellphones were seized by some local residents.

The official added that after failing to get her cellphone back, the girl jumped into the river and the boy followed suit.

The police have yet to recover bodies. They however began inquiry into the incident and rounded up suspects.

Also in the day, a girl jumped into the river in Junali Koch Booni area here after her fiancé announced the dissolution of the eight-month-old engagement.

The police has arrested the boy and his father and registered a case against them under sections 34 and 322 of PPC.

The divers recovered the body and handed it over to the family, which buried it.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2017