More casualties: Flash floods claims five lives

Number of people lost their life in different incidents in chitral flood conditions

KARAK/ CHITRAL/ GILGIT/ MANSEHRA/ TANK/ GHALLANAI:

At least five people have lost their lives in separate flood-related incidents in Chitral, Tank and Karak on Thursday.

Insiders told The Express Tribune a man identified as Khan was swept away in Ayun area of Chiral as heavy rain and floods once again lashed the region. At least 12 houses have been washed away.

A man identified as Asif Ahmed, a resident of Kareemabad Valley, also died in the flash floods.

Tank and Karak

Two boys were swept away by heavy currents in Gomal Canal in Tank after rain contributed to water levels. Two others were rescued by residents who lived nearby. According to Tank DSP Rural Muhammad Jan Marwat, Mushtaq, Masoodur Rehman, Abdul Wahab and Atlas were swimming in the canal. “Mushtaq and Masoodur Rehman died.”

In Karak, a man identified as Irfan Khan slipped and fell into flood water on Thursday. His body was recovered four hours later.

Trail of destruction

In Loon Valley of Chitral, a major pipeline was damaged by floods. The road leading to upper Chitral from Reshun Valley has been completely destroyed. Rain is likely to continue in Chitral until July 26.

Moto Shah and Khursheed dams in Prang Ghar, Mohmand Agency have been filled to maximum capacity.

In Mansehra, rainwater has seeped into King Abdullah Teaching Hospital and damaged machinery and medicines worth millions of rupees.

Damage control

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rahman and force commander Major General Asim Munir have distributed relief items in Hisper Valley – an area in G-B which has been cut off after landslides.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2015.