PESHAWAR: The flood-affected people have started returning to their homes in cantonment areas after sheltering in the relief camps set up by the Cantonment Board Nowshera (CBN) as situation normalised.

`Water from upper parts of the district directly hit Nowshera city, especially the cantonment area, submerging almost all markets and shops,` said CBN chief executive officer Zofishan Manzoor.

The returning people were provided food, blankets, medicines and other necessary items at the camps set up in different localities of the cantonment.

The CEO monitored the rescue and relief operation since day first and it was because of the comprehensive strategy thatnot asingle casualty happened.

`Neither a human nor a single animal died in the cantonment that was submerged in the flood,` she said. All birds and animals from a nearby zoo were also rescued.

The cantonment administration set up four camps while three others were established by the district government, sheltering over 2,700 people and hundreds of livestocl(.

The people were given three-time meal and drinl(ing water as well as clothes.

The flood affected over 20,000 people living within the cantonment limits.

According to the damage assessment, 600 shops and 85 houses, owned by the cantonment board, were extensively damaged while 2,500 private properties, including houses, shops and markets, were also damaged.

Medical assistance was also provided to the affected people.

The flood has also damaged Bagh-i-Jinnah, which attracted a large number of people every Eid from Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan and Nowshera.

Several under-construction sites were completely damaged. However, the cantonment administration has so far not received any funds or financial assistance from the federal and provincial governments.

Floodwater of several nullahs, which passed through the cantonment towards Kabul River, caused losses worth millions of rupees by damaging properties and businesses.