SIALKOT: The catastrophic floods have badly damaged roads in Sialkot making it hard for the flood-hit people to return to their homes.

The people were showing great courage by traveling on broken roads in Bajwat, Head Marala, Saidpur, Chaprar, Pasrur, Bella areas and Sambrial.

MNA Armughan Subhani said years were required to rebuild the roads.

Sialkot District Coordination Officer (DCO) Nadeem Sarwar told reporters the raging flood had damaged 112 roads.

He shared the preliminary flood damages assessment of Sialkot district with reporters. The flood affected 75,000 population in 167 villages and crops on 15,346 acres. Up to 192 cattle were perished while 170 houses were damaged partially and 90 completely. The buildings of 11 basic health units and 83 government schools were also damaged.

The flood and torrential rains took the lives of 35 people in Sialkot and the government paid Rs25.6 million as financial compensation to their heirs.

The DCO said carcasses of 101 animals were buried while the vets would vaccinate 84,706 animals in flood hit areas.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014