Flood-hit people in Golen still look for arrival of govt assistance

CHITRAL: Scores of people trapped in the Golen valley after the July 8 flash floods were on Tuesday rescued from their villages. However, majority of the affected people were said to be still waiting for government help.

In the meanwhile, the local streams flowing from a glacier continued flooding, creating fears among the locals about more devastation.

Sources said most of the officials of the government departments were in Shandur for the final of the annual tournament.

Local volunteers were busy in helping the trapped people and providing them food and other items.

As Prime Minister Imran Khan was expected to witness the final of the tournament at Shandur, government machinery remained engaged in security and other preparations. However, the PM’s visit was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

An official told ChitralToday that Rescue 1122, Chitral Levies, Civil Defence and C&W department took part managed to shift 45 people to safer places.

Small villages and hamlets in the scenic valley about 25 km northeast of Chitral town are still cut off from each other as bridges on streams and link roads have been washed away by the floods.

Army helicopters also took part in the relief operations and provided food and other items to the affected people.

Roads in the area have been devastated which could take months for repair.