Floods devastate Dadhocha villages

Torrential rains have unleashed severe flooding in the vicinity of the under-construction Dadhocha Dam, located about 25 kilometres from Rawalpindi, causing widespread destruction in several villages.

The rising waters submerged the villages of Bharwala, Mohra Faizullah and Khanpur, where several feet of water entered homes, destroying belongings worth millions of rupees.

The situation prompted hundreds of residents to protest by blocking the busy Rawat-Kallar Syedan Road near Sardar Market, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.

District administration officials quickly arrived at the scene as demonstrators demanded that their settlements be declared a model village and that they be provided compensation at market value along with alternate land for relocation.

A court has also taken notice of the situation, issuing a stay order and demanding a report from the district administration. In response to the flooding, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema deployed Rescue 1122 teams to the affected areas to assist residents and prevent further damage.

According to him, authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and a small controlled breach has been made to release water gradually over 24 hours, reducing the immediate threat of a larger flood.

He assured the public that no human, animal, or material loss would be allowed.

Dadhocha Dam, considered a crucial project to address Rawalpindi's growing water crisis, has seen years of delays.

Although initially proposed in 2001, construction did not begin until 2012 due to funding constraints and bureaucratic hurdles.