Heavy rain and hailstorm flood Swat and Shangla, damage crops and roads

SWAT/SHANGLA: Heavy rain accompanied by a hailstorm caused damage to public property in Swat’s Matta tehsil, while torrential downpours in Shangla and Bisham triggered flash floods, blocked roads and stranded commuters, according to officials and residents.

In Matta tehsil, the hailstorm hit Kharerai and nearby areas, damaging orchards of peach, plum, apricot and other seasonal fruits. Residents described the weather event as unusual for this time of year and said it had caused serious hardship, particularly for farmers.

Flooding in local streams across Matta tehsil submerged roads, markets and residential neighbourhoods. Rainwater entered shops and houses in several areas, adding to the losses suffered by traders and residents.

‘We are facing losses from both sides. Our crops are gone and our homes and businesses are affected,’ resident Ibrahim said.

Shopkeepers criticised the district administration and the provincial government, saying roads and drainage infrastructure had not been properly maintained. They said blocked rainwater channels and roadside drains had led to water accumulation, causing losses to businesses even during relatively light rainfall.

Those affected called on the government to take immediate action and demanded that the drainage and sewerage system in Matta be made fully operational so rainwater does not collect in markets and on roads.

Experts linked the extreme and erratic weather to climate change, saying changing weather patterns were increasing both the frequency and intensity of such events in the region. Residents also sought urgent relief and longer-term infrastructure measures to reduce future risks.

In Mansehra city and nearby areas, heavy rain also exposed clogged nullahs, with garbage surfacing on Abbottabad Road. Traffic remained suspended on Zafar Road and the Karakoram Highway after rainwater inundated major routes.

Flash floods block Karakoram Highway in Shangla

In Shangla and Bisham, torrential rain on Thursday caused flash floods in local nullahs and raised water levels, blocking the Karakoram Highway at several important points.

Officials said the downpour began in the afternoon and led to widespread flooding. Rubble accumulated heavily on the highway, bringing traffic on the main route to a standstill. Hundreds of commuters, including tourists and local residents, remained stranded for hours.

‘The situation was critical as the main artery was blocked by heavy debris at multiple locations,’ sub-divisional police officer Bisham Usman Munir said.

He added, ‘We immediately mobilised resources, engaging private excavators to clear the road and deploying additional personnel to assist those stuck in the cold and rain.’

Police later restored traffic after several hours. However, the incident drew strong public reaction, with residents and environmental experts saying the scale of the landslides was linked to ongoing illegal and large-scale mining in the Bisham mountains.

Public representatives and residents demanded immediate and strict action against mining activity near populated areas. They said unregulated excavation had weakened the mountains’ natural stability and left the Karakoram Highway exposed even to moderate rainfall.

Residents said the flooding was not solely a natural event but also the result of human actions linked to destabilised terrain.

‘This wasn’t just a natural disaster; the relentless excavation of our mountains fueled it,’ a local commuter stranded in the mudflow said. He said the Karakoram Highway would remain dangerous for travellers in Shangla unless illegal mining was stopped.

Authorities in Shangla advised tourists and other travellers to avoid unnecessary movement and exercise extreme caution until weather conditions improve. Police contingents remained deployed at vulnerable points along the highway to monitor the situation and provide immediate assistance.

Residents also called for a permanent response to the environmental degradation they said was threatening both local communities and the safety of the national highway.