Mother Nature unleashed her fury causing havoc in the form of a torrential downpour in the serene Phayao province. As darkness blanketed the province, torrential rain cascaded down, morphing into a violent flash flood. The inundation of colossal water masses proved too robust for a bridge. The result? The primal force severed the only lifeline between the Chiang Muan and Dok Khamtai districts, leaving them in a state of isolation.
The dreadful incident, which took place in the bewitching hours of the night, not only damaged infrastructure but, unfortunately, swept two vehicles into the swirling chaos. To make matters worse, various individuals are currently reported missing, thrusted into Mother Nature’s unforgivable grip.
The authorities launched an immediate response, the urgency being locating the missing persons from the quaint Nong Lom village with fervent hopes of finding the fellow citizens alive. The troopers fighting time and nature from our beloved Chiang Muan area reported the recovery of three bodies from the five missing individuals. As of now, the search is still on for the remaining two, the atmosphere is fraught with tension, hope, and prayers for their recovery.
The aftermath of the raging flood witnessed catastrophic damage to the bridge, the severity such that it would take time to restore normalcy. The efficient officials from the Department of Highways raced against the clock, removing debris and clearing bamboo clusters that had found their way under the once stalwart bridge structure. A temporary solution of bringing in soil to repair the bridge is in talks to facilitate vehicular movement.
The community and the authorities are joined together in unity during these testing times, searching diligently for their missing neighbours. A silver line in the dark clouds was the rescue of a 52-year-old man from Nong Lom village, Dok Khamtai district, Phayao province. He was found alive, safe and sound atop a hill.
An insight into the terrifying catastrophe was shared by Khao Muang In, a 63-year-old domicile of Nong Lom village, Dok Khamtai district. He revealed his near-death experience, as the flash flood protruded into his personal space, dragging away their pickup truck and tractor, resting a staggering 50 meters away from their house. His quick-thinking wife alerted him, and thanks to her, they escaped the ruthless flood claws, else they could have been the casualties.
Meanwhile, efforts to clear the wreckage include the use of a backhoe to remove the bamboo clusters and the debris towering under the bridge. The next course of action involves transporting soil for clearing a pathway for the stranded vehicles. Get to know about more such spellbinding tales of resilience from our new Facebook page HERE.
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