Floods hit Chitral, torrential rains predicted

CHITRAL: Flash floods devastated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral district for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

The villages Danin, Kari and Ayun besides Koghuzi Valley flooded as the Yarkhun River swelled from melting glaciers.

The bridge connecting Chitral to Shandur is also badly damaged, impeding rescue efforts. Structures in low-lying areas including a primary school and 18 houses were submerged.

Meanwhile, water bodies across the country are witnessing alarming increases in water levels.

The Ravi river at Head Balloki has seen a concerning increase, with the inflow of water measuring at 62,860 cusecs.

The Kasur deputy commissioner said relief camps have been set up at different places in anticipation of flooding. He also said the Pattoki district administration is on high alert to deal with any emergency situation.

In Kahror Pakka, a crack has developed in the Basti Talian Marla Scheme Minor. Water from the minor entered the nearby population and fields as a result. Several acres of standing crops are inundated.

Rescue officials said the repair process of the crack will be completed soon.

In River Sutlej, the water level is also continuously rising. At Head Sulemanki, there has been an increase of 11,000 cusecs in the flow of water. The inflow of water was recorded at 35,000 cusecs.

In view of a mid-level flood at Pakpattan, the nearby population has started shifting to safer places.

Meanwhile, the water released by India four days ago into the Chenab has now reached Jhang. The flow at Trimmu Barrage has reached 130,000 cusecs. A low-level flood of 109,000 cusecs in the Chenab at Marala Barrage Sialkot was reported.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), “scattered to widespread wind thunderstorm with very heavy falls at isolated places is expected over the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab.”

This further increases flooding risks. Medium to high level floods are expected in Chenab and Jhelum, the PMD report says.

Medium level floods are also predicted in nullahs of Ravi and Chenab along hill torrents of the Dera Ghazi Khan division.