10 killed as flash floods wash away madrassa, houses in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: At least 10 people were killed and several others went missing when flash floods swept away a madrassa, several houses and shops in a market area in a mountainous district of restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwest Pakistan.

Heavy rainfall triggered a sudden rush of water from nearby mountains to the low-lying areas of Upper Dir district, destroying a madrassa, eleven shops and eight houses.

So far bodies of three women, five children and a cleric have been found, police said, adding that the toll might rise as several students of the madrassa and some residents of the area went missing after the flood.

The district administration and police with help of locals have launched a rescue operation in the flood-hit area and the search is on to find missing people.

Roads closed by land-sliding and avalanches, are being opened with help of bulldozers and machinery and debris of collapsed houses and shops are being removed.