SHANGLA: Panic gripped the residents of Shangla as water level increased in Indus River after the recent monsoon rains in the region.

The people living along the bank of the Indus River have vacated their houses due to threat of flash flood. The rains during the last one week damaged houses, bridges, schools, roads, mini power stations and other infrastructure in the district.

The waterlevelin theIndusincreased during the last two days, forcing the local people to shift to safer places. The residentsofAbasindhColonyinBisham,which was affected by flash flood since 2010 several times, vacated their houses and shif ted to safer places.

Sadam Hussain, a resident of Abasin Colony, told this scribe that last year his house was washed away by flood. He said that the government neither compensated the people nor protected them frommorefloods.`These daystheIndus is in high flood which has panicked the people,` he added.

Mr Hussain said that local administration was yet to make announcements about flash flood or rising of water level in the river. He said that it was impossible to sleep at night due to fear of flood.

Sadiq Ahmed, another resident of the area, said that a mosque and at least 27 houses were facing threat of flood. He said that authorities did not construct a safety wall in the area despite their repeated requests. He said that water level in the Indus was rising with each passing day.

Niaz Ahmed, a resident of Dandai,told this scribe that most of the houses along the bank of Indus were at risk.

`The residents of the area have shifted to safer places. This year the district administration has not announced any threat of flood and neither provided tents to the affected families,` he added.

Local sources said that a middle school in Olander area was washed away by flood. The school was the only educational institution in the entire area, they said. They demanded of the authorities to provide tents to the students so that they could continue their studies.

Routine life in the district was paralysed by monsoon rains that continued intermittently. Many roads were blocked by heavy landslide. The residents of Karora shifted to safer places due to landslide in the area.

Supply of electricity to Bisham city also remained suspended owing to falling of power pylons. The Pesco officialssaid that work on restoration of power supply was underway but they were short of line men staff.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Dildar Ahmed has directed the relevant assistant commissioner and revenue officials to start relief operation in the affected areas.

During a meeting here on Monday, he directed all the line departments to remain alert.

He said that officials should contact his office in case of flood or landslide to ensure timely provision of relief to the affected families.