Locals stage protest, demand construction of a bridge. PHOTO: FILE
UPPER DIR:
Two persons, among five who fell into Panjkora River when the rope of a chairlift snapped, drowned in Upper Dir on Saturday.
The incident took place at Warhi tehsil near Disalwar petrol pump. Three of the victims were rescued and rushed to the local hospital.
An official at District Headquarters Hospital said the five persons were identified as Yahya Khan, Islam Khan, Shah Hussain, Zareen and Israr. Locals quickly launched a rescue operation in the area despite facing a river current strengthened by Friday’s torrential rains. They succeeded in recovering three persons safely. The bodies of Yahaya and Islam Khan, who could not be saved, were recovered from Taraye Timergara.
The incident sparked a protest in the area when locals from Sultankhel tribe staged a sit-in at Sahibabad, blocking Peshawar-Dir Road for over an hour.
Addressing the protestors, Sahibzada Sanaullah held the government responsible for the mishap, saying the incident could have been prevented if a bridge was constructed at Sahibabad. “People are compelled to use a chairlift in the absence of a bridge. We appealed to the government in this regard, but it was in vain.”
The protestors demanded an FIR be registered against the chairlift owner for providing poor service and putting people’s lives in danger. Sanaullah threatened if the government did not order the construction of a bridge in the area within one week, a massive protest would be launched.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2013.
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