CHITRAL: Various villages in Upper Chitral, including Werkup, Parkusap, Ghoru, Terich and Rech, have been hit by flash floods caused by the cloud burst during the last two days, damaging dozens of houses, standing wheat crop, fruit orchards, roads and suspension bridges over streams and rivers.

In Werkup and Rech villages of Torkhow valley, the floods rendered dozens of families homeless while wheat crop and fruit orchards over hundreds of acres of land were inundated by the flood water.

The Parkusap village in Mastuj was disconnected from rest of the district as the suspension bridge over the river was washed away by floods.

Murad Jan, a resident of the area, told Dawn by telephone that the commodities of daily use were running out leading to food shortages in the area, while children were unable to attend schools situated on the other side of the river.

Similar situation has been reported from Nishko village of Terich union council where children from more than 300 households could not go to schools in Werkup as the jeep-able bridge at Nishko was partially damaged due to high floods in the river leading to its closure for pedestrians as well as vehicles.

The flash flood also damaged water supply schemes in all the affected villages, forcing the villagers to consume contaminated water.

Upper Chitral additional deputy commissioner Mohammad Irfanuddin told Dawn that the district administration had been put on high alert keeping in view the impending danger of flash floods in more villages. He said relief operation was in progress in the affected villages.

He said efforts would be made to rehabilitate the suspension bridges and roads in the shortest possible time.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2019