Nature’s wrath: Muzaffarabad loses its only park to floods

Rehabilitation minister promises to arrange a substitute area for children

MUZAFFARABAD: As relief agencies scramble to deal with the aftermath of flooding caused by Neelum River that destroyed houses and lives in Muzaffarabad, tales of human misery continued to haunt the town.

“On Friday morning the currents from the river swept Neelum Public Park,” said Muhammad Saeed, a resident of Talimandi, who was still reeling from the disastrous floods in the area.

Situated on the riverbank near Talimandi, Neelum Public Park was the only open space for recreational use. It was added to the long list of casualties as the soaring river engulfed large swathes of the city.

“It was the only park for children in the area which is now swamped,” said Haris Nadeem, a resident of Belan Noor Shah.

For children in the area, things couldn’t get worse, the natural calamity has not only destroyed their lives but also stolen their smiles. The overflowing river swept swings and recreational facilities in the park leaving behind a trail of devastation for them.

“I have not been able to face my son who used to play in the park every evening,” said Ansar Khawaja.

Mudasir Asghar, a 10-year-old boy, who was a regular visitor at the park until it was submerged under floodwaters said, “I came here with my brother to play with school friends on Sunday and now our favorite rides are no more.”

In a humble appeal to local authorities, the visually perturbed boy said “we request the administration to arrange another ground where we can play.”

Offering a glimmer of hope in the wake of the tragedy, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Minister Abdul Majid Khan said that the government would assist flood-victims on a priority basis.

“We know that Neelum Park was the only playground for the kids and the government will try its best to arrange a substitute area for the children,” Khan said in a sympathetic statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2014.