Ongoing rains caused large boulders to fall into Manor Stream, blocking the Kunhar River and forming a lake.
MANSEHRA: Flash floods have caused serious problems in the Kunhar River, turning it into an artificial lake. On Friday, the floods also swept away eight more shops in the Mahandri area of Kaghan Valley.
Heavy rain and sudden bursts of rain have brought large boulders into the Manor Stream, blocking the Kunhar River’s flow and creating a lake in the Mahandri area.
Shakeel Jani, a local resident, warned that if the district administration doesn’t clear the blockage by Saturday morning, the lake could overflow, leading to more damage and losses downstream.
People from the Manor area protested during a visit by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Deputy Commissioner Adnan Khan Bhittani. They were unhappy with the delay in repairing the central bridge and demanded that the Pak Army help rebuild it and rescue families stranded in the area. Protesters complained that their families have been without food and other necessities since the disaster struck, and officials have been delaying the reopening of the road for four days.
In response, the Chief Secretary instructed the National Highway Authority and local officials to quickly reopen the MNJ road. Bhittani said that over 85% of stranded visitors have already been evacuated, and work is ongoing to repair damaged roads and electricity in the valley.
Meanwhile, tourists stuck in Naran, a key town in Kaghan Valley, have started leaving in large groups using the Karakoram Highway. The district administration has warned tourists to leave Naran soon, as more floods and rains could cut off the entire valley in the coming days.
