July 09, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 23, 1428

DIR, July 8: Torrential rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, played havoc with infrastructure and property in the scenic Usherai Dara area of Upper Dir, inundating roads, destroying bridges, orchards and standing crops on Saturday night.

Jabai, Nashnama and Namlai villages of the Palam Union Council were struck by lightning, but no loss of life was reported.

Flash floods swept away several roads, four bridges, seven water mills, two shops, orchards, standing crops and several heads of cattle, besides inundating more than 100 acres of agriculture land.

Palam Nazim Mohammad Ali Khan told Dawn that lightning destroyed infrastructure and property on a massive scale.

He demanded of the government to provide immediate relief to rain victims and announce compensation for them.

The raging floodwater also swept away the main road leading to the Chitral district, leaving hundreds of people stranded in Dir.

SCHOOLS DENY ADMISSION: Private schools here have been denying admission to a six-year-old girl because she had complained against a teacher of her former school for giving her corporal punishment.

Naila Naz, a kindergarten student, was first expelled from the school and then her admission to all private schools of Dir town, the headquarters of Upper Dir district, was banned.

The girl’s father, Javedullah Khan, alleged that Saleem, a teacher of the Faraan Model School Rehankot, Dir, beat Naila with a stick. He said: “The marks of the stick are quite visible on her palm, suggesting severe punishment.”

As corporal punishment for students was banned in schools, Javedullah said he inquired from the teacher as to why he had subjected his child to the punishment. But instead of regretting, the latter threatened him of dire consequences.

Javedullah said that he then complained to the school principal but in vain. He then filed a complaint before a local court against the punishment meted out to his child.