KURRAM: Three picnickers were killed and five injured critically when flood water swept them away after a heavy downpour coupled with hailstorm hit the mountainous areas of Upper Kurram on Monday.

Local residents said several persons of Pewar area of Upper Kurram had gone to Syed Karam heights, a tourist spot in Spina Shaga area near Koh-i-Sufaid (White Mountain) along the Afghan border for picnic on Sunday. However, they were stuck in the area due to heavy rainfall and hailstorm. Their families and local people had approached the district administration through social media, which sent a team of rescuers to the mountainous range.

After 24 hours of hectic efforts the rescuers spotted the picnickers. They recovered three bodies and rescued five others in critical condition.

An official at a checkpost in Spina Shaga told Dawn that three bodies and five critically injured were brought to the BHU in the area.

The deceased were identified as Iqbal, Arshad and Tufail.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2020