MANSEHRA/SWABI: The administration of Mansehra on Monday issued evacuation warning to people residing near riverbanks as a man was swept away by floodwater in Shergar area of Oghi while water entered shops and houses in various areas of Swabi district.

The first spell of monsoon rains in the upper parts of Hazara division swelled Kunhar, Indus and Siren rivers and local streams to a dangerous level.

The Mansehra district administration ordered shifting of people living near rivers to safer places as all water reservoirs passing through its jurisdiction were swelled to a high level with the start of a monsoon spell in most parts of the division.

It also warned tourists in Kaghan and Siren valleys to remain away from water in rivers and streams.

Man swept away by floodwater in Oghi; rainwater enters shops and houses in Swabi

Mohammad Danish drowned in a local stream following its flooding during rain in Qaziabad Shergar area of Mansehra district.

Abdullah Syed, an official of Rescue 1122, said that divers with the help of locals fished out his body after hectic efforts of hours and shifted it to tehsil headquarters hospital in Oghi.

Locals rescued a nomad family, including women and children, amid flooding in the Bothekatha stream in upper Channia area. The nomads had erected tent at a safer place far from the stream but it swelled because of rain and all of the family members were stranded in the floodwater.

Meanwhile, traffic at Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road remained blocked for over an hour due to flood in a local stream in Sandysar area of the district.

In Swabi, floodwater entered shops and houses in various areas of the district following torrential rain on Monday. Situation across the district remained perturbed as floodwater also swept away standing crops.

Gohar Inqilabi, Pakistan Peoples Party provincial deputy information secretary, who belongs to Gohati region, said that rain caused flood as ways of water were blocked by people, who erected buildings there. He said that irrigation department failed to remove such structures.

In various areas, crops of tobacco and maize as well as vegetables were badly impacted by floodwater and standing rainwater.

Liaquat Yousafzai, central general secretary of Kashthkar Coordination Council, said that floodwater also entered godowns in different regions and damaged about 20 per cent cured tobacco, which was ready for taking to purchasing points of multinational and national companies in the district.

Rescue officials said that they remained very busy for the entire day tackling various issues related to floodwater and rainwater standing in houses and fields in low lying areas.

The district emergency officer, Owais Babar, said that floodwater in various areas including Thandkoi, Zaida and Gohati Gharibabad was drained out by his teams. “Our teams are using heavy machinery and dewatering pumps,” he added.

Meanwhile, the body of Rahim Gul, who drowned in the flood on Sunday, was recovered on Monday and handed over to his family for burial.

Supply of electricity remained suspended for over 12 hours. Meteorological officials predicted more rain on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024