ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Rains have caused widespread destructions in Chitral but the intensity of damages to public and private properties could not be ascertained due to disruption in the telecommunication system.
However, local government officials said Booni, the headquarters of Mastuj subdivision in upper part of the valley, was worst hit. Water supply lines, electricity pylons, small powerhouses, transformers, irrigation channels, link roads and five bridges have been destroyed and the residents remained marooned.
Many houses in the villages have completely or partially been damaged and due to continuous floods in the local stream the residents have migrated to hilly areas where they were living under the open sky.
MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin visited the area and announced Rs3 million for relief work. He also directed PWD to reconstruct the destroyed bridges on an emergency basis to restore communication within the area. Besides, a transformer was also provided to the residents for restoration of electricity supply.
In Jinali Koch, the degree college for girls has come in the range of flood while a bridge linking the village with other parts of the district has already been destroyed. In Reshun, flash floods also damaged water pipelines and disrupted telecommunication and electricity network.
In Chuinj, Brep and Bang villages, large scale destructions to standing crops, orchards and water supply pipelines and channels has also been reported. In the Biori valley in lower Chitral, torrential rains and floods buried huge swath of forest, pylons and water supply lines.
Besides, all roads leading to Garam Chashma, Kalash, Torkhow, Morkhow, Yarkhun and Laspur valleys remain blocked due to landslides and floods.
Chitral’s links with other parts of the country via the Lowari and Shandur passes also remained suspended. Due to inclement weather, the PIA could not operate its flights to the valley from Islamabad and Peshawar.