The people of Mingora are struggling to keep hold of their possessions
Last updated: 11 august, 2010 - 10:32 GMT
A Diary of the Floods in Pakistan's Swat Valley
Many residents in the Swat Valley were still recovering from last year's bloody conflict with the Taliban when disaster struck again.
Torrential monsoons hit Pakistan at the end of July, causing devastating floods.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed and the entire Swat Valley was cut off at the weekend with even helicopters unable to reach the people left homeless.
In pictures: Floods in Pakistan's Swat Valley
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An elderly man waits outside with his lunch box as male relatives clean inside the home -
A man is busy washing the mud from clothes and blankets in the river -
A house destroyed on the river side -
There is a severe shortage of clean water and people are doing what they can to clean the mud from their things. -
As well as their homes, many lost treasured possessions in the deluge. Children stand in the river trying to see what they can find. -
People are exhausted from the physical and mental trauma of this latest disaster to hit the area. They have nowhere to go and are unsure of their future. -
Flood waters rose so quickly that people didn't have a chance to move their cars when they were forced to flee from their homes. -
An elderly couple try to collect what little they have left. -
People are using anything they can to scoop mud out of their homes. -
The streets of Mingora have become makeshift homes. -
This bridge was one of the main routes out of Mingora, connecting the city with other districts. -
Petrol pumps full of mud, stand in the shadow of a stark reminder of Swat's other recent crisis, a wall littered with shells from militant gunfire.
Photos by Adnan Rashid
Newly-married reporter Adnan Rashid lives in Mingora, a city in one of Pakistan’s worst affected areas. For Outlook he has been keeping an audio diary describing the impact of the flood waters on his and his neighbours’ lives.
Adnan’s own father witnessed one of the vital road bridges being washed away. He describes seeing precious goods, like washing machines and fridges full of food floating away.
He tells Matthew Bannister about his own observations and how he and his new bride feel about the future.
Listen to Adnan's audio diary and interview with Matthew Bannister:
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First broadcast on 10 August 2010
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