SHANGLA: Torrential rain and flash floods blocked major roads and destroyed houses, standing corn crop and water supply schemes in upper parts of Shangla district on Monday night.

Javid Khan, tehsil councillor in Damorai, told this scribe that heavy rain coupled with hailstorm caused flash floods and landslides in the area. He said that the main Shahpur-Ajmir road remained blocked in Damorai for 16 hours, while floodwater badly affected houses along the streams.

Sardar Mohammad Khan, another local, said that flash floods affected a mosque, nine houses and cultivated lands.

The rainwater also damaged water supply schemes of Mor, Bhatobat, Umar Farooq, Zara, Asharai Maidan, Bar Cham and proper Damorai villages besides destroying standing crops in the hilly areas.

He said that due to blockade of road the students and commuters faced difficulties while crossing the rubles. People also faced shortage of water after the damage caused to the water supply schemes.

The people said that neither the administration officials nor elected representatives visited the affected areas, forcing them to clear the road to light traffic on self-help basis.

Main Bisham-Swat road was blocked at Karora where hundreds of vehicles remained stuck on both sides.

Meanwhile, the district administration sent heavy machinery for clearing the blocked roads.

SEXUAL ASSAULT: Police registered an FIR against two persons for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Kangala area of Chakesar the other day.

According to the FIR, the victim reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by two men, identified as Wazir Zada and Ihsanullah, in the absence of her parents. She alleged that both came to her home and forcefully assaulted her.

A police official said that they had arrested both the suspects after registration of the FIR. He said that they had received the medical report of the victim.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2019