Flash floods death toll rises to 39 in Shangla

ALPURI: The death toll from rains and subsequent floods rose to 39 as the body of another child was recovered from debris while hundreds were injured in Shangla.

There were fears of more fatalities due to widespread destruction caused by the devastating floods. The search continued for dozens of missing persons in the district.Relief operations started in Shangla after the deluge but most roads remained closed.

Roads linking the most affected area of Shangla have yet to be restored. Work is underway to reopen roads leading to Puran, including the Yakhtangi area, Martung, and Shahidi Sar-Buner roads.

The locals said that even after four days, land access to Puran had not been restored while thousands of residents in Puran remained trapped.Following the floods, water levels in various rivers, streams, and channels have been continuously decreasing. The full assessment of damage to bridges, roads, houses, shops, agricultural land and orchards was still incomplete.

The power supply system collapsed while local micro-hydel power stations were destroyed, and electricity supply at the local level remained suspended.

Hundreds of water channels and generators of local power plants were swept away by the floodwater. Affected people were distressed due to the slow response from the administration.On Sunday, the affectees began submitting applications at the deputy commissioner’s office in Alpuri.

According to sources, no assessment teams have been formed yet.In Alpuri’s Faizabad area, locals have started building a temporary bridge on their own.After the route to the Government Primary School in Daulat Killay was cut off, the local people and school administration built a temporary bridge with wooden planks.In various areas of the district, residents began constructing footpaths and bridges on a self-help basis after they were destroyed by the floods.