GLOFs, flash floods wreck havoc, main roads blocked

CHITRAL: Floods in different areas of both Lower and Upper Chitral have hit scores of sub-valleys damaging public and private properties besides cutting off the areas.

A youth reportedly drowned in the river in Mirkhani in Lower Chitral while two children were saved after they fell into floodwater in Khruzg village of Yarkhun. The children are being treated in a medical center at Bang village for minor injuries, local residents told ChitralToday.

The flash floods and GLOFs are reported to have been caused by hot weather followed by heavy downpours which started last night and continued with intervals on Tuesday.

Traffic is suspended on roads to Upper Chitral, Garam Chashma, Shishi Koh and Kalash valleys as floods and landslides have damaged the roads.

The Chitral-Mastuj road is blocked at Kari, Ragh, Koghuzi, Shader Reshun and in front of Booni. Bridges over nullahs at Koghuzi and Ragh have been washed away along with a police post at Koghuzi.

The district administration of Lower Chitral has asked residents living along rivers to keep away from rivers and streams as the volume of water there has swelled. It said some old and dilapidated bridges over rivers and streams have been sealed.

According to reports, over a dozen of houses have been damaged in Golen Gol valley which is cut off from rest of Chitral.

In Upper Chitral, people of Reshun have also moved from vulnerable areas.

Flash floods have caused wide-scale destruction to houses, crops and fruit trees in different villages Upper Chitral.

Local people told ChitralToday that Yarkhun valley received a very heavy rain at about 3am on July 30 triggering flash floods in streams and dry nullahs. 

The rain was so heavy that within minutes the mountains saw gushing water flowing down like rivers bringing down boulders, mud and other debris. 

In Dizg village, retired teacher Nadir Sangal saved his life after being swept away by floodwater. His under-construction house was damaged.

The floodwater entered houses, garages and shops along the road in Dizg, Khruzg, Mahting, Birzoz and Bang, causing huge damages to the residents. Many vehicles were also buried under debris, including a taxi jeep of Sorum Baig in Dizg.

The residents said water and power supply to the villages has been suspended as water tanks and channels of many hydro power stations were also damaged.

The area is also cut off from other parts of the district as the road is blocked not only in many Gols but also inside the villages where flood debris are now accumulated.

Moreover,  wheat crop was mostly lying harvested in these villages that have been lost in the floods. Flash floods in Brep and Khuz also damaged crops and houses but there were no details as mobile phone service was also disrupted after the heavy rain.