Rain-triggered floods cause losses in Baghlan, Paktia

GARDEZ/PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, caused human life and financial losses in southeastern Paktia and northern Baghlan provinces, officials said Tuesday.

Local officials in Paktia say 11 houses were destroyed and three people including two women died in the floods in the province.

Shadm Khan Helal, Paktia natural disasters management director, said that two women lost their lives when their house collapsed in Zazai Maidan district.

He said a young man was killed by floods in Samkani district. A woman and a man were injured in Aryub district after floods ruined their house.

The casualties may increase and exact number of people who lost their lives and incurred financial losses due to the floods would be identified after the arrival of emergency teams to the affected areas, he said.

Local officials say the affected areas include Ahmadabad, Sayed Karam, Laja Mangal, Samkani, Dand Patan and Zazai Aryub districts of the province.

Elsewhere, flash floods destroyed one thousand acres of farmland and killed hundreds of livestock in Baghlan province during the last few days.

Samiuddin Nazir, a provincial council member of Baghlan, told Pajhwok that they sought help from relevant organs but no one came forward to assist them.

He said the affected people would face the shortage of food items if they did not receive assistance.

Sahibdad Ghafori, chief of Doshi district of Baghlan, said one thousand acres of farmland had been inundated and 55 livestock lost in the floods in his district.

Mujib Rahman Bahin, Baghlan natural disaster management director, said he was yet to receive reports of the houses destroyed in floods as he had sent a team to the affected areas for assessing the damage.

According to reports, up to 120 people have lost their lives with dozens others sustaining injuries in recent floods that damaged hundreds of houses across the country.

mds/ma