28 washed away by floods; Karzai orders help for victims

SAR-I-PUL (PAN): At least 28 villagers lost their lives and four others went missing after heavy floods hit a wedding party in the northern province of Sar-i-Pul, officials said on Monday.

The overnight floods washed away the people attending the marriage ceremony in the Deh Murda village of Sancharak district, Syed Faizullah Sadat, provincial head of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Governor Abdul Jabbar Taqwa, who visited the affected area, said two people were injured. The dead belonged to Sangcharak, Sar-i-Pul, Kohistanat and Gosfandi districts, he added.

The victims were attending the function when the incident happened, the deputy head of the provincial council, Asadullah Khoram, said, adding rescuers had been sent to the area to locate the missing individuals, including women and children.

“The flash flood was triggered by two days of heavy rains,” a local resident said, claiming the bridegroom’s house was also washed away.

Residents with the support of local officials have launched a search operation to find the missing people.

Meanwhile, President Hamid Karzai condoled with the affected families and directed the Afghanistan ANDMA to extend emergency assistance to the flood victims. A statement from his office said the president had ordered the ministries of defence and interior to help bury the dead.

myn/vp/mud

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