River flooding inundates Chitral villages

CHITRAL, July 24: The high flood rivers in Chitral has inundated a number of villages in upper parts of the district as well Garam Chashma and Kalash valleys rendering scores of people homeless and threatening many others. The persistent rise in temperature during the last two weeks has caused the melting down of glaciers. Dozens of families have been rendered homeless in the villages of Green Lasht, Reshun, Junali Koch, Awi Lasht, Sarghooz and Chuinj while the valleys of Arkari, Karimabad, Lot Koh and Kalash are also hit by the rising water. People in the low-lying villages have started vacating their houses to migrate to the higher altitude places while a number of non-governmental organizations have rushed to help the displaced families. The ever rising level of the river has changed its direction to the building of district jail near Chitral city at Denin village and Chitral-Booni road is highly endangered by the river in front of the district jail. The people of Denin village have apprehended that the inundation of the road and the jail buildings will result in colossal damages as the grain godown of food department, government servants colony and a private housing scheme will be washed away which were followed it. The roads leading to the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur are at the verge of collapse in many points due to the rising water while with the tourism industry will face immense loss if the roads are blocked.–Zahiruddin  ]]>