LAYYAH: Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Choubara tehsil as 2,000 mud houses collapsed in Nawankot and Khairaywala union councils in the last two days which resulted in the death of two persons and dozens of animals while 10 people were injured.

The torrential rain damaged mud houses, completely or partially, in the desert areas of Choubara tehsil.

The most affected localities are Khokaraywala, Sahranwala, Basti Isran, Langarwala, Ramdialwala, Basti Tareen, Bakshi Sattarwala, Battiwala, Chaitriwala and Shairowala. The residents of these localities have been staying in the open.

“A seven square kilometre area in the city of Nawankot has turned into a lake and most of the land there is waterlogged and inhabitable. There’s no chance of receding of the water in the coming days,” Saqlain Magssi, a local resident, said.

Jam Manzar, former chairman of Khairaywala UC, said no government officials or elected representatives bothered to visit the affected homeless people.

“Heavy rain caused more damage as the water seeped through the mud walls,” Altaf, of Bhularwala, said.

Former federal minister Bahadur Khan demanded that Choubara tehsil be declared a calamity-hit.

Deputy Commissioner Azfar Zia maintained that the damage survey was being done and after proper assessment the affected people would be compensated.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2020