Floods wash away 300 houses in Malakand

Torrential floods has washed away more than 300 houses claiming three deaths and destroyed standing crops inflicting millions of rupees loss in different parts of Malakand Agency.
This was disclosed by NWFP Minister for Forest and Environment, Shah Raz Khan while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. He was flanked by MMA MNA from Malakand Agency Bakhtiar Maani and Fazale Subhan MNA from District Swat.
The provincial minister said that flood in river Swat had played havoc in Malakand Agency and district Swat of Malakand Division. The floods had washed away hundreds of houses and household items of the people living on the bank of the river beside loss of a number of precious lives.
He said that provincial government is utilising its limited resources on rehabilitation and welfare of the affected people. However, he said it is difficult in the limited resources of the provincial government and demanded of the federal government to come forward and play role in the rehabilitation of the affected areas.
Speaking to the newsmen, Bakhtiar Maani MNA said that majorities of the roads in the agency have been closed down due to land sliding and several areas are also facing water shortage. He called upon both provincial and federal governments for declaring Malakand Agency a calamity hit areas. The worst affected areas, he recalled were Wartir, Batkhela, Dheri Jolagram and Thana.
MNA Fazal Subhan said that a number of tourists had been stranded in Kalam valley due to the collapse of bridge on a river while several schools have also been washed away in the flood. He also attributed the Monday night incident with casualties of 12 people to the heavy rains in Khawazakhela.
The Khawazakhela-Shangla road has badly damaged due to heavy floods and rains and people using alternative roads. He also demanded the announcement of a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package and declaration of district Swat as a calamity hit area.
The provincial minister said that all health facilities in the province have been put on red high alert to provide medical facilities to the injured people. He said that all affected people are getting emergency medical treatment and compensation would be paid after conducting detail survey of the losses in the province.