UPPER DIR/SWABI: Flash flood washed away two bridges and potions of as many roads in Upper Dir after a torrential rain as an intermediate level flood was observed in the Panjkora River.

Eyewitnesses said that water level increased in streams after rain that caused flood in the Panjkora River. They said that an intermediate level of flash flood was passing through Barikot union council. They said a bridge in Khadgal area in Barikot was completely washed away by the flood and another bridge was badly damaged.

The house and agricultural land of Shamasur Rehman were damaged by flood in Bada stream. The flood also washed away a portion of main Dir-Kumrat Road in Barikot. A number of vehicles and tourists remained stranded in the area. However, local people repaired the damaged portion of the road after rain was stopped and facilitated the tourists to go to homes.

Standing crops destroyed in Swabi

Likewise, link road of Gawaldi union council remained blocked to traffic for more than 20 hours at various places due to flood. The local people alleged that the executive engineer of the communication and works department refused to clear the road to traffic, saying the officials of the department were busy in clearing various portions of the main Dir-Kumrat Road.

More torrential rains have been predicted in the next days in Upper Dir. Provincial Disaster Management Authority has issued warning of floods and issued directives to district administration to make precautionary measures in that regard.

In Swabi, standing crops and vegetables were damaged and supply of electricity remained suspended for about 10 hours to different areas after heavy downpour coupled with thunderstorm on Sunday.

The boundary walls of various houses collapsed in Razaar tehsil but no casualty was reported. The rain turned various roads into pools. The drains overflew and some of the low-lying areas were inundated.

The standing crops of maize, sugarcane, vegetables and tobacco were damaged by thunderstorm and trees fell on the road. The supply of electricity remained suspended for several hours to various areas.

Mustafa Kamal of Dagai village said that power supply to their area remained stopped for more than 13 hours.

Rukhsar Ali of Pirtab village said that the power supply remained suspended for more than 12 hours to their area. He said that despite repeated telephone calls, they got no response from Peshawar Electric Supply Company staff.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2019