CHITRAL: The road link between Lower and Upper Chitral districts was restored here on Monday three days after high flood in the Chitral River had damaged the artery in the Nerdet hills.

Upper Chitral deputy commissioner Khalid Zaman told Dawn that out of 17 village roads only seven could be opened, while all the flood-damaged 13 water supply schemes and 18 irrigation channels were yet to be restored.

He said that food and non-food items were provided to 63 families, who had been rendered homeless by the flash floods in Yarkhoon and Laspur valleys.

In Lower Chitral, roads in Madak Lasht valley, Kalash valley of Rumbur, Gahtak Denin and Ochusht were reopened to vehicular traffic. However, no water supply scheme, including that of Chitral town from Golen Gol, could be restored, causing shortage of potable water in the area.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Chitral River is receding.

The swollen river had inundated a number of low-lying villages in both the districts from Broghil in the extreme north to Drosh in the south.

A number of non-government organisations have reportedly launched relief operations in the affected areas, distributing food items, kitchenware, tents and helping the villagers restore drinking water supply schemes and irrigation channels as well as village roads.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2023