A number of buildings were destroyed when a flash flood washed away Biyar bazaar on Thursday.—Dawn

UPPER DIR: Nine people, women and children among them, were killed as a flash flood swept away a bazaar in the far-flung Biyar area of Upper Dir district on Thursday.

Residents said the death toll might rise as several madrassah students and local people had been missing since the sudden rush of water from nearby mountains destroyed a seminary, shops and houses in the bazaar and its adjoining areas.

The flood was caused by a heavy rainfall on the mountains.

One of the residents, Maulana Shamsur Rahman, said that nine bodies had been found and a search for the missing people was under way. The bodies found were of three women, five children and a prayer leader.

Another resident said the main Kohistan Road had been washed away, cutting the Kohistan region from the rest of the district.

Another resident who was taking part in the search for missing people told Dawn that an overflowing stream was hampering rescue work. “We are waiting for the water to subside,” he added.

One resident said six of the dead were from the family of one Iqbal Khan from Mardan who were here to spend the summer.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2015

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