Floods continue to wreak havoc on Chitral

CHITRAL: Flash floods triggered by cloudburst washed away several houses, bridges and roads in upper parts of the district and cut off lower Chitral with Mastuj subdivision. The heavy rains lashed Chitral valley late Thursday night. Heavy floods were also reported in Reshun, Koragh and Barenis Gol.
Reports said that 10 houses and a car were swept away in Reshun. The road leading to the power house in Reshun Gol and the bridge were also swept away by the fast-moving water. Locals said the floodwater also entered the power house in Reshun, which suspended power supply to Mastuj.
In Koragh, the flash floods washed away a restaurant, two shops, and a house. In lower Chitral, the floodwater swept away 10 houses and two mosques in Orghuch village. Floods also wreaked havoc with property in famous Kalash valleys.
Officials said heavy rains damaged a hotel of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and a dozen houses in Bamburet valley. The raging water also damaged the road, suspending traffic to the Kalash valley. The main road in Garam Chashma and Karimabad valley road were also damaged by the flooding, which cut off its link with Chitral city.
Speaking at a press conference, newly elected district councillor Mohammad Hussain asked the Pakistan Army to help re-open the Garam Chashma Road to traffic, adding that the civil administration couldn’t undertake this task.
He said the growers would suffer heavy loss if the Garam Chashma Road was not repaired as potato and pea crops were about to be ready for supply to the market. He said the National Highway Authority had opened the Dir-Chitral road to light traffic.
Meanwhile, some reports suggested that Angarghuti Water Supply Scheme providing water to the Chitral town was also swept away by floodwater. Electricity supply was also suspended to Chitral town, which also caused the shortage of drinking water.
At least two persons were killed in Broze village by floods a day earlier.Talking to The News, Member National Assembly Shahzada Iftikharuddin said that he visited most of the flood-hit areas. “The devastation is huge. I am in contact with the officials concerned of both the federal and provincial government to provided prompt and sufficient help to the affected people,” he maintained.