Streamlining work: Relief efforts in full swing for flood-affected areas

CHITRAL/ MINGORA:

Wednesday brought more floods to Chitral as around 70 houses were damaged, however, no loss of human life was reported.

Heavy floods hit Lohak, Wakht and Arkari Valley in Garam Chashma around 2am. At approximately the same time, Mori Bala area was also inundated and 25 houses were partially damaged. The sudden night-time floods were a source of fear for locals who were not expecting more inclement weather. The nullah adjacent to Chitral Scouts Cantonment also overflowed early Wednesday morning. The scouts and locals both evacuated.

According to eye witnesses, thousands of people had to leave their houses for safety.

Since the floods started

At least 48 people have died and 348 houses have been destroyed by the floods in Malakand division since mid-July. However, the government is leaving no stone unturned in helping those who have been affected. This was said by Malakand Commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir at Jirga Hall in Saidu Sharif in Swat on Wednesday. “Those who have been affected are being helped in every possible way by the government.”

The spell of floods in the division caused the most destruction in Chitral, he said, adding at least 34 casualties were from Chitral and in infrastructural loss 80 houses were also damaged.

“Initially when the floods occurred, teams of security forces in the division were dispatched to the affected areas for rescue work,” said Wazir. “Hundreds of people and animals were saved and the provincial government set up control rooms in every part of the division. At least 40 tonnes of food was also distributed among the affected people.”

Losses and risks

Under his supervision, said the commissioner, 12 teams have visited Chitral to estimate the losses caused by the floods.  He added they were surveying the area to determine the exact losses.

So far the provincial government has announced Rs0.3 million for those families who lost their loved ones to the adversity while Rs0.1 million has been allocated for those who were injured during the floods.

About the damage to infrastructure, Wazir said 40 link roads along with 14 connecting bridges, nine irrigation channels and 83 water supply schemes have been destroyed by the water current.

However, the commissioner said, there was no risk of floods in Swat, Dir and other districts of Malakand Division.

Protection projects

A handout issued on Wednesday quoted Chief Minister Pervez Khattak as saying at Nowshera Press Club that flood protect projects were being executed at a cost of over Rs8 billion in eight districts in K-P, including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Dir and Swat. About the restoration of infrastructure in Chitral, he said link roads in the district will be renovated within two weeks on temporary basis while other major communication roads will take at least six months to be properly rebuilt as most of the routes, particularly those leading to Garam Chashma, Bumboret and Mastuj were washed away by the current.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2015.