MANSEHRA, Aug 13: At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed and seven others were missing after flash floods hit three villages in Kohistan district on Monday morning.
Police and residents said flash floods triggered by heavy rain swept away at least 200 houses, 40 shops and two mosques in Martung, Doga Bala and Mini Chal villages in the Dobar police area of the Pattan tehsil.
So far 13 bodies have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed houses, they said.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Jamad, Abdur Rehman, Sikandar Khan, his wife and a daughter, Mohammad Ishaq, wife of Hijab, Lakora Khan, two daughters of Abdul Haleem, a daughter and a son of Abdul Hamid and Abdul Qawi.
Hill torrents also swept away two vehicles and seven people are missing.
Unconfirmed reports put the death toll at 20, with many people more missing.
A local hydro-electric power generator and basic health unit of the Mani Khail were damaged and power supply to nearby areas was cut off.
A rescue operation is under way to retrieve bodies and shift over two hundred families who lost their houses to safe places.
Kohistan District Police Officer Alam Zeb Khan, who is leading the rescue operation, said that floods also swept away the road linking the three villages with the main highway and police were finding it difficult to go to the affected villages.
