MIANWALI, Jan 2: Flash flood claimed nine lives in Kundal area, 65 kilometres from here on Sunday afternoon. Reports reaching said that the torrent was caused by heavy rains on the surrounding Isakhel hills.

It swept away huts of three gypsy families who had raised their shanties on the bank of the hilly watercourse.

Bodies of eight children and a woman had been recovered by 9pm. The families had moved from the Northern Areas after the onset of winter. PAF helicopters joined the rescue operation but returned when darkness fell.

Officer Commanding Group Captain Naveed Khaliq said that the whole area of Isakhel was inundated by flood in the sub-river Kuram, which originates from the Northern Areas and falls into river Indus near Kundal.