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In August this year, heavy monsoon rains hit Mangora, the main market of the city once again turned into a shallow river. The water went down the hills and did not find any shop. Instead, he crossed the roads, flooded houses and trapped passengers. For thousands of residents, the scene was most familiar.
Once it is known for comfortable rivers and gardens, Mangora – Swat’s largest urban center – the risk of flooding has become rapidly. Urban expansion, drainage and encroachment have flooded the once -of -the -art civilization, combined with unruly climate samples.
Increase the influence of the flood
According to the Water and Sanitation Services Company, the city has once again experienced two major urban floods in 2022 and in 2025.
“The affected area has increased from 140 acres to 261 acres,” said WSSC Swat General Manager (Operation Services) England Zeeshan Pauz. “In addition, drainage problems cause small floods regularly.”
There are stories of losses and uncertainty behind these numbers. Floods have damaged homes, shops, schools and roads – and with them, the delicate livelihood of daily wage workers, shopkeepers and small business owners who rely on Mangora’s stirring markets.
A city made on aquatic passages
The thing that makes Mangora especially weak is that most of its drains depends on natural streams – which is locally called Khoras – which once safely transported rain water to the Swat River. Over the years, they have been tight, filled with concrete, filled or covered to make a place for waterways, markets, roads and housing.
“All the natural canals have been exceeded,” said Pervez said, in some cases, buildings were built directly on top of them, which is almost impossible to clean and maintain. “
The result is a city that itself sinks – where every rain goes beyond blocking and turns the roads into rivers.
Disadvantages of livelihood
In Adina Market, the main center of Mangora, for books and stationery, shopkeeper Noman Khan saw helplessly when the flood water swallowed his shop.
“We have been running a business here for many years, but such a flood has never happened,” he said. “The whole shop was destroyed. All the goods were washed. The damage in Mangora City is huge – the flood suddenly arrived.”
Nearly, Rohul Amin, who used to run a small scrap shop, stood in the rubble of his livelihood.
He quietly said, “Everything was swept away by flood water. Our business is over.” “We had no idea that the flood would kill us. If we had known, we could save our goods in time.”
Another commercial area, from the Chinese market, a young shopkeeper, Zeeshan gave his loss:
“My shop was completely destroyed. There is mud everywhere. I request the government to find a solution to this serious problem.”
Prostration, for a jewelry, its effect was even more personal.
“Our jewelry business is completely ruined by the flood,” he said. It is every yer. This place is no longer suitable for business. Our job is over, “he said,” We stare at empty exhibitions that once used to sleep and hope. “
Between survival and recovery
Beyond the markets, covered drains, and many low -income families living near the rivers, gave birth to the bundle. Flood water entered houses, furniture, beds and school books were damaged. For those who are already struggling before inflation, reconstruction has become a traumatic routine.
“Citizen flood is not just a natural disaster – this is a failure to plan,” said Dr. Baset. “If Mangora wants to survive with the future monsoon, he will have to rebuild his relations with the waterways he has buried.”
“We have cleaned our house three times since the rains,” said Sira Babi, the mother of four people living near Landicas Khor Gharbag. “Every year we fix the walls and buy new mats. The next flood destroys everything. Children cannot sleep when it rains – they are afraid the water will come back.”
Its story mirrors hundreds of others in Mangora, where every storm is at risk of eliminating months’ efforts to normalize normal recovery.
Drainage under tension
WSSC officials say the city’s drainage system is low and is poor. Many drains, which were designed for the first time decades ago, are struggling to handle the run -off with the rapidly growing urban proliferation.
“Through the turns, block drains and utility pipes that pass through the pipes, they reduce the ability to carry water,” said Peruz. “This system was never built for the severity of today’s rain.”
Heavy rains are often found with the accumulation of solid waste – plastic bags and trash closed clusters and manholes, which force flood water to return to roads and homes. For residents, this means that another night is sweeping, saving and hoping that the rain will stop.
Extremely weather
According to Dr. Abdul Basit, an environmental scientist, the changing samples of the weather are complicating the problem.
“The monsoon systems have become more wrong, with heavy rainfall in short periods,” he said. “Urban areas like Miningura, which have small green and cooked surfaces, cannot absorb water quickly. It leads to surface flow and flood.”
He added that the cutting of forests in the upper Swat and turning the agricultural land into a solid structure has increased the speed of the run -off, which has pushed more water to the urban core. “It’s not just misfortune – it’s a poor plan to meet the changing climate,” he said.
Official response
Deputy Commissioner Saleem John Marwat acknowledged the challenges of growing human and infrastructure.
“After Peshawar, Swat District has the highest population growth rate,” he said. “Rapid civilization is putting a lot of pressure on local infrastructure. We are working to deal with this situation. Trees planting, better drainage and strict zoning are part of the project.”
WSSC-SWAT has developed a sectarian master plan for urban drainage, designed with climate change and dangerous risk concerns. The project has identified obstacles, encroachments and low drains, and suggested reforms in modern drainage corridors and waste management.
“The main obstacle is the funds,” said Peruz. “Citizen flood is now the priority of the government. A new proposal has been made for approval.”
Municipal officials say public awareness and community involvement is key. Campaigns are being planned to discourage garbage throwing in the drains and create flexibility in weak families.
To restore flexibility
Experts say Mangora’s survival depends on how much it can improve urban growth with environmental rehabilitation. It is very important to reopen the covered streams, enforce the building code and connect the flood -related flexible design.
“Citizen floods are just a natural disaster. It is often a failure to plan,” Dr. Baset said. “If Mangora wants to survive with the future monsoon, he will have to rebuild his relations with the waterways he has buried.”
For now, Mangora is a city where progress has been made at the expense of flexibility, and where people, in every monsoon season, fight not only to save their homes, but also fight to maintain their dignity and hope.
Author is a Swat -free journalist and a PhD scholar in the media and widespread communication. They have reported climate change, environment, human rights, education and elections. They can be arrived at waqar.swaty93@gmail.com
