MANSEHRA: The irrigation department has constituted a committee to investigate and fix responsibility for the death of a Wapda employee who was swept away by water after the spillways of the Kotkay Dam were opened here the other day.

The Mansehra deputy commissioner will head the committee with the SP investigations and the superintending engineer of the irrigation department, Hazara circle, as its members.

“An unfortunate drowning incident was reported on May 2 downstream of the Ichar Nullah, where a precious human life was lost,” a letter issued by the secretary of irrigation stated, directing the committee to complete the probe and submit the report.

The committee was constituted on the orders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, after the family of the Wapda employee, Mohammad Arshad, alleged that the dam’s spillways were opened without prior warning.

They alleged that the deceased was going home after duty when the spillways were opened, sweeping him away.

The committee is mandated to meet with witnesses, the bereaved family, and relevant departments, and record their statements.

The police had registered a case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code and launched an investigation to identify and arrest those who were responsible for his death.

GLOF THREAT: The Upper Kohistan district administration on Monday reviewed the measures to cope with the possible glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs).

A team comprising officials from various departments, led by DC Azizullah Jan, visited glacial lake outburst flood early warning stations installed at six high-altitude locations in the calamity-prone Kandia Valley.

“I appeal to the people of Kandia tehsil and the rest of the district to remain vigilant against any natural calamities during the monsoon season. The administration is adopting all possible measures to tackle such situations,” Mr Jan told reporters on the occasion.

Residents of Kandia have lauded the Pakistan Meteorological Department for installing the Glof early warning systems in the calamity-prone valley in 2025.

“We have suffered human and financial losses during flash floods in the past. In light of the alarming situation, the Glof early warning system was installed in March last year,” a resident said.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026