Flash floods leave people stranded; damage roads, bridges.

ABBOTTABAD -- Torrential rains created havoc in the Hazara division as flash floods confined people to their homes and washed away various roads and bridges in three districts of the region.

Connecting bridge on River Siran at Baffa Maira has been destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the river have been trapped. Floodwater also entered the residential areas of a number of cities of Abbottabad, Mansehra and Battagram districts, damaging property and infrastructure.

The Thandyani road in Abbottabad district was badly damaged by the continuous hours-long heavy downpour, while also causing landsliding and flash flood at many places. The district administration has directed the tourists and locals to avoid traveling during the inclement weather.

Moreover, ravines and nullahs in Baffa city were also flooded, as people desperately escaped waves five feet high. Their furniture and electronic items were rendered useless as floodwater entered inside their homes. The heavy rains and flash flood also damaged the retaining walls of Baffa Hospital, while also destroying schools...