Sorech Flood Upper Chitral – By: Nasir Akhtar
Today, I am sharing the devastating impact of the recent flood on the village of Sorech, Rech Chitral Upper. It’s heartbreaking to see a vibrant community turned to ruins in just an hour. Nature can be both beautiful and destructive, reminding us of our responsibility to care for the environment. Just days ago, where you now see alluvium, there were homes where people lived happily as families. On the evening before the flood arrived, fathers and sons were planning to cultivate their ripening crops. Children were excited to accompany their families to the fields, helping by bringing food and drinks. Sadly, they were unaware of nature’s plan, which was entirely opposite to their hopes. Apart from the standing crops, there were orchards of ripening apricots, apples, walnuts, and more. Many shops, which provided livelihoods for numerous families, were also destroyed.
On the morning of August 31st at 5 a.m., nature revealed its destructive side. I believe this devastation is a response to how we treat nature. Nature is beautiful and friendly when we care for it. As it is said, human plans are insignificant compared to Allah’s plan. If Allah wills something, we cannot stop it. However, Allah also says in the Holy Quran, “Allah intends to make things easy for you and does not desire difficulty for you” (Surah Noor, Ayat 58).
There is also a hadith related to this: “The Most Merciful has mercy upon the merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and He who is in the heavens will have mercy upon you.” Quoted by Abdullah bin Umar (R.A) [صحيح] – [رواه أبو داود والترمذي وأحمد] – [سنن أبي داود: 4941].
In the Quran, Allah wants to make things easy for us and does not desire difficulty. But why is nature sometimes destructive and causes difficulty? The answer lies in the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Perhaps we are not merciful to Allah’s creations on Earth. We often neglect to care for those in need, plants, animals, land, and all creatures that play a role in maintaining balance in our ecosystem. By continuously damaging the earth, we show a lack of mercy toward Allah’s beautiful creations, which is why the mercy of He who is in the heavens may be withheld from us.
While global warming is a worldwide issue caused by various human actions, as Chitralis, we have the power to make a difference. By stopping overgrazing and planting more trees, especially in flood-prone areas, we can work towards preventing such disasters in the future. Let’s show mercy to nature, and it will return the favor.
Although there are many other ways to care for nature, the actions mentioned above are practical steps we can take to protect ourselves from nature’s destructive side.
Finally, I invite you to share your thoughts on how we can collectively make a positive change. If you know of any relief efforts, please share this post so we can support those in need.
