PESHAWAR, Aug 7 Widespread rain and surge in the River Kabul and other rivers and canals further added to the miseries of flood-affected persons as several low lying areas were again submerged in floodwater in Peshawar and adjoining districts of Nowshera and Charsadda.

Scores of terrified persons were seen observing the flood situation while standing on different bridges and on the banks of rivers so as to evacuate their families in case of further surge in water.

Hundreds of people in different localities in Nowshera were standing on the G.T. Road, along the River Kabul, and on a key bridge on the river on Nowshera-Mardan Road.

“I am here since morning to observe the flood situation as the recent experience of flood few days ago was very bad for all of us,” said Khan Mohammad, a resident of Akramabad, situated near the River Kabul in Nowshera.

He said that now it was afternoon and the water level was on the rise. He added that during the recent devastating floods his house was submerged about 10 feet in water and they had to take refugee at a nearby hillock for three days.

“I have observed that during the last one hour the canal water has increased by almost three feet and it appears that we have to spend the night here for observation so as to evacuate our families in case of severe flooding,” said Nasir Khan, a resident of Lala village, while standing along with scores of his villagers on a bridge near Tarnab.

He added that last time they were caught unaware as they were not expecting such heavy flood and they had to run for their lives when the gushing water hit their village.

Similar situation was witnessed at Amangarh where people were observing the situation from a bridge overseeing the River Kabul.

A vast tract of land and properties in Pabbi Town, about 17-km from here on G.T. Road in Nowshera, were also inundated. People were seen wading through waist-high water on roadsides.

The Pabbi Satellite Hospital, a major health facility in the town, was completely submerged in floodwater and patients could not enter there for getting treatment. In some of the cases people were seen carrying their patients on their backs.

Hundreds of stories of miseries and agonies were scattered along the G.T. Road as the displaced persons, especially Afghan refugees near Azakhel camp in Nowshera, were completely drenched due to heavy downpour and were trying to get cover under their already wet tents and plastic sheets.

Ever since the devastating floods hit several areas, the displaced persons, including women and children, have pitched their makeshift tents and those provided by the UNHCR on the median along the G.T. Road near Azakhel, around 25-km from here. These displaced persons had spread out their belongings including quilts, pillows and mats in the open for drying, but fresh rainfall again completely soaked it, leaving the people in a fix as where to go.

“Our mud houses in the entire camp were swept away by the heavy flood and now looking at continuous rain it appears we have to vacate this road also,” said Ahmad Gul, who has taken shelter on roadside along with his family and hundreds of other refugees.