Narowal Villages Cut Off as Flood Damages Baen Drain Bridge
Narowal, Pakistan – The collapse of the protective embankment and bridge over the Baen rainwater drain has left over 40 villages isolated, disrupting daily life for residents. Villages including Fatehpur Afghan, Baramangah, Malikpur, Jagatpur, and Kot Nainan are now cut off from Noorkot, Narowal, and other towns.
Residents relied on the bridge to access work, schools, hospitals, and markets, but the collapse has forced locals to find dangerous alternatives. Taking advantage of the situation, a local man, Muhammad Munshi, has set up a makeshift raft using plastic drums, charging Rs30 per person to cross the 20–25 feet deep drain. The operation lacks life jackets, raising serious safety concerns.
Local journalist Muhammad Waseem warned that the system poses a major threat to citizens’ lives and urged authorities to build a temporary bridge with army assistance to ensure safe passage.
Flood Impact & Relief Efforts
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Roads connecting villages near the border, including Nangli, Doaba, Fassipur, Chandianwali, Dudhewali, Basiwala, Chelewali, Qalandarabad, and Ran, have also been washed away.
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Deep holes of 15–20 feet have formed in flood-damaged roads, prompting residents to improvise rope-and-cot systems for crossing.
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Rescue 1122 boats are being deployed to provide transportation and aid.
Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza confirmed that the district administration is actively restoring roads and providing food, medicine, accommodation, electricity, clean water, and animal fodder at flood relief camps, prioritizing the needs of affected residents.
