Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Troops of Pakistan Army are engaged in carrying out relief and rescue activities in Chitral area where flash floods have played havoc with the civic life.

Late on Saturday, Arsoon village, some six kilometres northwest of Domil Nisar area, flooded badly and affected houses while a few residents were also reported missing, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said here on Sunday.

At least five houses were completely washed away while some others were damaged which also caused injuries to the residents. About four injured have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital of Chitral through helicopter from Arsoon, according to the release.

Besides providing relief and rescue assistance, the troops also evacuated some injured persons for medical treatment and the stranded people were also given edibles to ensure their survival and sustenance. The troops also provided tents and medical aid to affected people.

The Lama helicopter of the army made five trips from Chitral to the Arsoon village and evacuated injured people besides carrying food items. The search operation for missing persons was also in progress, it added.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also expressed grief over the loss of human lives and gave directions to increase rescue activities to evacuate the stranded people in the affected areas.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also announced aid of Rs 0.3 million per person that will be given to a victim’s relatives, a private news channel reported.

Chitral’s District Nazim Mughfirat Hussain Shah said that the number of deaths might increase and that women and children both have been among the affected people.