SHANGLA:A powerful storm accompanied by torrential rains and strong winds caused widespread destruction across district Shangla late Sunday night, damaging dozens of residential houses, educational institutions, electricity infrastructure and road links, while leaving several areas without power for many hours.According to local residents and officials, the sudden windstorm and heavy downpour affected several parts of the mountainous district, including Alpurai, Chakesar, Kana, Puran, Shahpur, Ranyal and adjoining rural areas. The severe weather uprooted trees, blew away roofs of houses and schools, disrupted electricity supply and created panic among residents already facing changing climatic conditions in the region.Witnesses said the weather changed abruptly during the night when strong winds began blowing across the district, followed by intense rainfall that quickly turned into a destructive storm. The violent winds tore off rooftops of several houses, especially weak and poorly constructed structures in remote villages.In tehsil Chakesar alone, roofs of at least eleven houses were reportedly damaged or completely blown away, while in tehsil Alpuri nine houses suffered partial or severe destruction. Several school buildings also sustained damage as tin roofs and boundary structures were uprooted by the strong winds.Fallen trees blocked a number of link roads and damaged parked vehicles in different localities, causing financial losses to residents. Despite the scale of destruction, no loss of human life was reported till the filing of this report, which residents described as “nothing short of a miracle.
However, many affected families were forced to spend the night under the open sky after their homes became unsafe for habitation. Women and children were seen taking shelter in neighboring houses and mosques as the storm continued for several hours.The district’s power transmission system was also badly hit by the storm. Main transmission lines and several electricity poles collapsed in various areas, causing prolonged power outages in Alpurai, Chakesar, Kana, Puran, Shahpur, Ranyal and surrounding villages. Multiple feeders reportedly tripped during the storm, plunging large parts of the district into darkness.Residents complained that the prolonged suspension of electricity had also disrupted water supply systems and communication networks, making life increasingly difficult in remote mountainous areas. Mobile phone services remained weak in some localities due to power failures affecting communication towers.Local people and social activists urged the district administration, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and relevant departments to immediately conduct surveys of the affected areas and provide emergency relief to displaced families. They also demanded urgent restoration of electricity and clearance of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris.Every year extreme weather events are becoming more intense.
After unbearable heat, sudden storms and heavy rains are now becoming a routine matter, said a resident of Alpuri. “The government must prepare a proper disaster management mechanism for mountainous districts like Shangla.”Citizens said the recent climate changes were not only affecting human life but were also causing serious damage to crops, orchards and livestock, threatening the local rural economy that largely depends on agriculture and animal husbandry.Meanwhile, officials of the Meteorological Department have forecast more rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds in upper parts of the country over the coming days. Authorities have advised residents, particularly those living in vulnerable and mountainous areas, to take precautionary measures and avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather conditions.Rescue and maintenance teams were reportedly working in several areas to restore electricity and reopen blocked roads, though officials warned that complete restoration could take time due to continuing bad weather and difficult terrain.
