Fresh challenge for relief workers, residents

SWAT: As the first snowfall of the season brings chilly winds and heavy rains in upper Swat, those in the flood-hit areas brace for more troubles.

A number of roads and bridges that connect the lower and upper areas of Swat were washed away by flooding and the remaining ones are now blocked by snow, doubling the misery of people from Utror, Kalam, Mankyal, Bahrain and Madyan.

“We were already in deep trouble, facing a shortage of food and other life-saving medicines. The ratio of diseases has increased two-fold as medicines are unavailable,” Attaur Rahman, a resident of Kalam, told The Express Tribune by phone. He said that earlier, residents would travel by foot but after the snowfall, even that was not possible.

Amjad Ali, a member of a local philanthropic organisation, said: “We left our relief activities there due to continuous heavy rain and snowfall. The only dirt road from Dir to Utror was closed and reaching these hilly areas will not be possible now as walking tracks not visible any more.”

Mohammad Nazir, a local activist of Kalam, said that the snowfall was another headache. “Usually, we would store food and other necessities for the winter to use till March because we were aware that roads would be closed due to heavy snowfall. But this year, we don’t know what to do as we are already short on food and other things.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2010.