— 50 Houses swept away by flash floods in Kandia Tehsil
KOHISTAN: Flash floods triggered by heavy rains caused massive destruction in the Kandia tehsil of Upper Kohistan on Sunday as at least 50 houses and mini-power stations were washed away, an official said.
Tehsildar (revenue officer) Muhammad Riaz told media that around 50 houses were swept away in the floods, adding that he has constituted five teams that have been dispatched to the affected areas for relief work and the assessment of losses.
A local activist’s estimates of the devastation were much higher, while another spoke of the challenges of being cut off from the electric grid and potable water.
Hafeez-ur-Rehman, a local activist from Kandia, told media that a “massive flood” hit two villages in the Kandia tehsil, where he estimated that around 100 houses were washed away, rendering scores of people homeless. No casualties were reported.
He said a large number of cattle were also killed, while water supply systems in four villages — Dansh, Berti, Jashoi and Dangoi — were damaged, though fortunately, families managed to evacuate before the floods reached the villages.
Rehman also shared videos with Dawn.com, shot by locals in the Jashoi area, of houses being completely submerged. In another video, flood waters can be seen raging through a valley.
He said the locals had initially started rescue work and shifted affected families to safer locations.
Another Kandia resident, Aziz Khan, said the suspension of electricity and water supply has “put the entire area in trouble”.
“Initially we had sent 45 tents and other essential items to the affected families while a team of revenue officers will reach affected areas in an hour to start relief activities,” Tehsildar Riaz said.
Dassu headquarters Assistant Commissioner Hafiz Waqar Ahmad told Dawn.com that some heavy machines of the Dassu hydropower project also came under the rubble followed by flood at Uchar Nala, however, the losses were not significant.
Uchar Nala is some 30km away from Kandia.
Waqar said food items were also dispatched for the affected families of Kandia and tents are being installed in Jashoi, while more were on the way to Birtvi.
Kandia tehsil was badly devastated by flash floods in 2010, 2011, 2016 and the infrastructure of the scenic valley could not be restored to its pre-destruction phase.
