Flood diseaster in hangu and its surronding

Watches this enjoy Flood diseaster in hangu and its surronding
Pakistan's recent flood disaster remains an open page before the world. But the damage suffered by the northwestern town of Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province hasn't found sufficient coverage in any major English daily or international media.

Host to the terror-affected internally displaced people (IDPs) from its neighboring tribal area of Orakzai Agency, Hangu was hit hard by nearly ten days of continual rain, starting at the end of July 2010. A total of 250 to 300 ml of rain was recorded in Hangu and the Orakzai Agency, leaving 18 people dead and about two dozen wounded, besides heavy damage to property.

The most serious toll on life by the flood waters was recorded in the more southern and western villages of Chamba Gulo, Zargairi, Kotki, Hayatabad, and Naryab. A total of 12 minors (under 13 years) died in these villages, six of them being crushed to death under collapsed roofs in houses in Zargari. At least 40 houses either collapsed or were seriously damaged in Zargari village.

Hangu city remained safe from damage to life; however, damage to property was widespread. Houses and shops were flooded and food items spoiled in a number of places. The northwestern locality of Gulshan Colony was almost entirely washed away by the floods as its location directly at the foothills made it the prime target of ravaging flood currents rushing down the hill slopes. Hardly any house escaped damage in this colony, some of them being entirely washed away.

Refugees in Hangu often pay the most in any crisis, and the flood disaster was no exception. The Afghan refugee camp in Kata Kanrhi hills saw ravaging flood currents in the stream that flows all along the camp's length in the hills marking the northern border of the town. Some 60 houses of clay and thatch were washed away by the flood in this stream-sided community of Afghan refugees. Besides this, the IDPs camp at Togh Sarai (southwest of Hangu) was also seriously affected by the flood waters, which damaged at least 100 tents in the camp, sheltering as many families of Orakzai IDPs.

Other damage to infrastructure and animal life was also reported from all around the district. About 10 small bridges collapsed in Hangu town. Toward the south in Tal, the main bridge at Mamo Banda was closed for transport after it developed cracks in its pillars due to the heavy rain and subsequent flood. But the worst damage was seen in the collapse of the famous Jawzara Bridge that was built in 1996 with an expenditure of 9.6 million rupees. Traffic was also suspended across the main Hangu-Kurrum bridge at Chapri Patak as the bridge developed cracks during the rain. In addition, livestock was killed in some places due to the collapse of roofs/barns.

Amidst all this destruction, no emergency rescue operation was launched, or even attempted, by the government authorities. Those who survived the flood owe their lives to self-help and the efforts of their community. The government hospitals and private medical centers in Hangu city did well in treating the wounded and the sick (usually having diarrhea and fever). Currently, official damage assessments are underway in Hangu and no one knows when the relief aid will arrive for the unfortunate victims of flood in this otherwise beautiful town.
Coppied by http://article.wn.com/view/2010/08/15/Flood_Disaster_in_Hangu_and_its_Surroundings/