Flash floods disconnect two districts from Faizabad

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Flash floods have blocked roads linking Baharak and Tashkan districts with the provincial capital, Faizabad in northeastern province of Badakhshan, officials said on Saturday.

The flash floods also blocked the Arghanj Khwah-Faizabad highway in Khanuqa area, however provincial public works officials confirmed this road was reopened for traffics, but asked commuters to avoid traveling on these routes until further order.

Information and Culture Director Eng. Zabihullah Amiri said the Faizabad-Baharak road had been blocked for traffic following flash floods in Khanuqah area last night.

Eng. Iftekhar Ahmad Makhdomzada confirmed Amiri’s account and said heavy machinery such as loaders, bulldozers and other vehicles were working to reopen the roads.

According to him, the Tashkan-Faizabad route has also been blocked due to heavy floods and efforts are underway to clear the road.

One of the Faizabad-Baharak route drivers, Mohammad Arif, said passengers stranded on the blocked roads included patients, women, children.

He said drivers sometimes exchanged passenger to cross the inundated areas.

He asked officials not to allow main roads to be blocked for more than an hour.

hz/aw/ma