Summary Flash floods devastated Upper and Lower Chitral, killing two people, damaging infrastructure and cutting off several remote communities.
CHITRAL (Dunya News) - Severe flash floods triggered by a glacier lake outburst, cloudbursts and torrential rains have caused widespread destruction across Upper and Lower Chitral, damaging infrastructure, homes and agricultural land while claiming two lives.
The floods affected several areas, including Broz Gol, Gumbas Gol, Ghairat Gol, Shishikoh Gahoch, Shishikoh Tingal, Karimabad, Preet Gol, Reshun, Koragh, Charun, Booni, Owi, Parwak and Mastuj. Numerous bridges, roads, houses, shops, hotels, public and private buildings, and farmlands were damaged.
According to authorities, floodwaters swept away merchandise from several shops and dozens of vehicles. Two people were killed in separate flood-related incidents. One victim has been identified, while the identity of another body recovered from the Chitral River has yet to be confirmed. Several others were also injured.
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Following emergency restoration work, the Chitral-Peshawar Highway, which had been blocked in Broz Gol due to flooding, was reopened to all traffic after nearly 22 hours. The damaged fibre-optic network was also restored, bringing back 4G, PTCL and other internet services.
Officials warned that a temporary lake formed by flood debris in Ghairat Gol poses a serious threat to Syedabad in Drosh, where hotels, a gas plant, shops, offices and other buildings remain surrounded by water.
The only bridge linking Gahoch village in Shishikoh was washed away, while the Tingal bridge had already been destroyed earlier, leaving several villages cut off from road access.
Floods and landslides have also severed the road link between Lower and Upper Chitral, with multiple roads in Upper Chitral still closed due to continuing debris and flood damage.
