Post landslide: Displaced Haramosh locals threaten to block Gilgit-Skardu highway

The danger of an impending drought perturbs affected locals.

GILGIT:

The government’s inability to provide adequate relief to the people of Haramosh valley has triggered unrest among the locals. They have threatened to block the main highway connecting Gilgit with Skardu, in a bid to have the rulers address their problems.

With a population of nearly 300, Kholtoro is a remote village in Haramosh valley located midway off the road between Skardu and Gilgit, and is about 100 kilometres from Gilgit. Back in April, nearly 200 people were displaced after sporadic landslides demolished houses in Khaltoro, forcing residents to stay in tents provided by Gilgit-Baltistan’s disaster management authority. The landslide also damaged water and irrigation channels, causing threat of an impending drought in the valley where the residents mostly depend on agriculture and livestock for their sustenance.

“The tents provided to us are in poor condition and do not provide shelter against rain and thunderstorm,” said Ali Akhtar, a displaced person, adding that one tent housed at least 15 persons. “We are afraid of an impending drought this year as means of irrigation have been badly damaged,” he added.

When contacted, Minister of Aftab Haider, said that the government had previously provided them some food items and tents but they require further assistance. “We will talk to the chief minister about improving rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas,” he said.

Two months back the disaster management authority had conducted a survey of the area with the help of a non-profit organisation and submitted its report to the government. The report highlighted a looming danger that a landslide may sweep away the village’s main water channel, a school, several fields, trees and around 31 houses.

One of the mountains of Kholtro has developed fissures, leading to a seismic phenomenon that hints an impending disaster in the village, similar to the one that occurred in Attabad village last year. The locals said that they have submitted an assessment report to the deputy commissioner, but have received no concrete assistance from the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th,  2011.