A street in the central bazaar of the Feroz Khel area in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district is covered in a thick layer of hail after a severe storm. PHOTO: NNI
SHANGLA:
Torrential rain and lightning triggered a sudden flash flood in Shangla’s Bisham tehsil on Friday, sweeping away two children and injuring a woman, while residential houses, the Bisham police station, several other buildings and property suffered extensive damage, according to local sources.
The flash flood also affected dozens of vehicles. It damaged electricity poles and power lines, while the Karakoram Highway was hit by floodwaters at several points in Bisham and remained completely closed to traffic until late at night. The Bisham-Alpuri Road was also affected by landslides at several locations.
The sudden deluge occurred after heavy rain caused a local stream in Bisham to swell rapidly, sending a powerful torrent of water, mud and stones through the area.
Two children were swept away by the flash flood, while a woman was injured and shifted to hospital for medical treatment.
The torrent caused severe damage to several properties along its path, including the Bisham police station, residential houses and other buildings. Several vehicles were also caught in the floodwater and debris and were damaged.
Floodwater and debris inundated roads, severely disrupting traffic and causing considerable difficulties for residents. The heavy rain and flash flood also badly affected Bisham’s electricity system. Several electricity poles collapsed, and power lines were damaged, disrupting electricity supply in various areas.
Meanwhile, the Karakoram Highway was also affected at several points in Bisham by flash floods, mud and rocks. The highway remained completely closed to traffic until late at night, with long queues of vehicles forming on both sides.
