MIANWALI: Crops over thousands of acres were destroyed, mud houses damaged and several cattle heads were killed because of hill torrents caused by the recent torrential rains over the mountains surrounding Isakhel tehsil.

According to officials, the district administration and flood relief teams are visiting the affected area, including Barooch, Adiala and Kalabagh, to conduct relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, a breach occurred in a protective canal in Kacha area of Qamar-Mushani in Isakhel tehsil because of a hill torrent on Friday.

The officials say flood relief staff has plugged the breach.

They say the DC inspected the canal breach site and directed the officials concerned to inspect other protective spurs in the area to avoid further losses as more rains have been predicted in the coming days. They say a flood monitoring cell has been established at the DC office to monitor the situation in the district around the clock.

Locals say every year administration constructs spurs on the route of hill torrents, but these embankments fail to sustain the pressure of the gushing floodwater coming down from the mountains. They say hill torrents damage standing crops over thousands of acres, demolish houses and kill cattle heads.

They demanded the Punjab government to declare Isakhel tehsil as a calamity-stricken area and provide relief to the affected farmers.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2024