Stuck in time: Stranded passengers finally reach Chitral

They were trapped due to construction work at Lowari Tunnel

CHITRAL: Passengers stranded and trapped due to construction work at Lowari Tunnel by Korean construction company SAMBO and National Highway Authority (NHA) finally reached their destination in Chitral on Saturday.

After a 30-hour journey, agitated passengers reached their destinations and expressed anger at NHA and SAMBO.

Muhammad Kareem, a passenger told The Express Tribune, “It is an insult to passengers in the name of construction.”

He said he started his journey from Peshawar on Friday at 5am and reached Dir at 1pm. “Police stopped my van at Qashqari point and stated it was time for incoming vehicles to pass through the tunnel,” he said, adding even though vehicles passing through Chitral crossed Lowari at 3pm, the tunnel remained closed.

Children, women and patients were forced to spend the night in extremely cold weather. Another passenger, Sabir Ali, said his mother became ill due to the unbearable cold. “I cannot afford her treatment,” he said . “If the elected representatives of Chitral cannot alleviate the troubles of people, they must resign,” Ali said.

Chitral Deputy Commissioner Usama Waraich issued directions to NHA and SAMBO company to follow the schedule of Lowari tunnel, however, after two weeks of following orders, no heed was paid. This also caused a clash between district administration, NHA and SAMBO.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2016.