GILGIT, June 27: Violent hill torrents have destroyed 40 houses, 12 shops and a police checkpoint in the western district of Ghizer over the week. Sources said the local administration was doing its best to protect low-lying areas, but given the lack of machinery and equipment, the rescue teams were handicapped to cope with the flood situation. Only small tractor trolleys, 12 local volunteers and an equal number of rescue workers were available to stop erosions at various areas in a district that stretched over an area of 200km up to Chitral, the residents in Ghizer told Dawn on telephone.

However, according to an official in the district, the affected people had been provided 25 tents and foodstuff for subsistence until a massive relief operation was launched in district.

They said the hill torrents that overflow after 5pm due to melting of snow and glaciers had been causing losses after they entered the local bazaars, fields and residential areas besides blocking the main and link roads.

The residents in Gupis, 100kms west of here, said that the water level in Khaltee Lake had risen to an alarming level.

The residents of the villages surrounding Khaltee Lake have abandoned their houses for fear of rising upstream and a possible burst down the stream.

They said water overflowing from the lake had inundated the Ghizer-Chitral road and the road had lost the link at various points between Gupis and Phander valley.