Nowshera

Swat is bent and broken

The Swat I saw last is not the same anymore.

Pakistan's north-bound motorway, the M1, that links Peshawar and others parts of the north west looks like a calamity zone as thousands of villagers who fled the ferocity of the floods now live on both sides without a roof over their heads.

They have lost everything.

A wailing woman said she had lost whatever little she had, her gold she got for her wedding and her buffaloes.

Asked what she wanted most, she replied "my home". Despite her ordeal, she was still lucky to be alive as others were swept away by the waters.

The city of Nowshera - also a military garrison and home to the country's cavalry units on the banks of the river Kabul - was completely inundated. For many it was the race to the top of their second-story home and eventually on the water tanks located above that.