UPPER DIR: Flash floods caused by downpour in Kohistan valley late on Monday night damaged portions of main Dir-Kumrat Road, blocking it to vehicular traffic from Barikot to Kalkot.

Areas of Kohistan, including Kalkot, Barikot, Bada Khwar, Byar and others received heavy rain, swelling streams at alarming levels. The rainwater also entered houses.

Long queues of vehicles were formed on both sides of the road after the flood damage, forcing passengers to spend the night in vehicles. Residents of the nearby areas presented passengers with food at Sehri. The devastating rain also damaged standing wheat crop and fruit orchards.

Almost 18 hours after the flash floods, the road was yet to be reopened for traffic till Tuesday evening. The residents of Kohistan demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority to remove debris from the road to reopen it.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019