CHITRAL: Fresh torrential rains wreaked havoc in Mulkhow union council of upper Chitral on Friday, leaving one person dead and three children missing. Hundreds of houses and shops in Muzhgol, Authool, Warijun, Gaht, Saht and Kushum villages were swept away.

According to Mastuj Assistant Commissioner Minhasuddin, the rains triggered flash floods in the afternoon that hit the villages and forced thousands of people to leave their homes for places at high altitudes.

Know more: Most of Chitral paralysed by flash floods

He told Dawn that the loss of lives had been low because of an early warning system as people had been informed through mobile phones and announcements by megaphones after which the residents of vulnerable places escaped before the floods hit the area.

He said the number of houses swept away had been initially estimated at 100, while those damaged could be in thousands because some villages had been completely inundated.

A PSO petrol pump, branch of Habib Bank and the Lai Bohti bazaar containing about 100 shops were washed away and a rural health centre and police station were damaged.

An official at the Chitral police’s district control room said that entire staff of the Mulkhow police station had fled the building and taken refuge at a place at a higher altitude.

One Muhammad Amin died in a mosque compound in Warijun village that was swept away by floodwaters.

Zhitoor Garam Chashma was among the worst hit villages where more than 50 houses and two Jamaat Khanas of the Ismaili community were washed away.

Anwar Baig told this correspondent from the village known for its potato crops that it had been submerged by sludge and a large number of livestock had been killed.

The villages of Lone and Gohkir were also hit by floods overnight. One Abdul Saqi died in Gohkir and Nazuk Khan in Lone.

Reports of damage from various parts of upper Chitral were coming in till late in the evening.

Meanwhile, a press release said relief and rescue operation by troops continued and 17.5 tons of ration had been distributed and 164 people rescued by two MI-17 helicopters from Rambur, Kurggh, Birri, Bumboret and Chashma.

The N-45 road till Chitral was opened by army engineers, while the onward route to Buni was open for light traffic. Repair of the Chitral-Bumboret and Buni-Masting roads was under way.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2015

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