Interprovincial highway blocked
Traffic on Dera Ghazi Khan-Quetta interprovincial highway could not be fully restored even on the third day after landslides blocked the route.
Border Military Police (BMP) Commandant Muhammad Hamza Salik reached the spot and attempted to restore the traffic by deploying more than 150 BMP personnel.
He told The Express Tribune that all the traffic to and from Balochistan had been cut off due to overflowing stormwater drains.
Two roads were blocked due to the landslides after heavy rains hit Fort Monroe, Koh-e-Suleman and adjoining areas. Due to the rains, tourists heading to Fort Monroe were stuck in traffic jam. Long queues were seen on Main Quetta Road, Mithaun Bridge, Sakhi Sarwar to Rakhi Gaj, Rakhi Gaj to Gardo Mor over a 15km route.
Reportedly, the flood relay caused by heavy rains for the last two days on Koh-e-Suleman caused havoc. Interprovincial traffic was suspended due to landslides on Neeli Matti on Quetta Road.
Floods sweep away roads, bridges in Balochistan
Due to the efforts of the local BMP force, the one-way road was opened for a while but due to heavy traffic and mountainous terrain, the traffic got jammed again. Dera Ghazi Khan NHA has not yet sent any machinery to clear the stones and mud from the road.
Tourists, passengers and transporters protested and demanded immediate action from the authorities concerned to restore the traffic.
Ghulam Mustafa, a tourist, said that thousands of tourists and travelers had been stranded in the hill areas for the last 48 hours but no action had been taken yet. “We are returning from Rakhi Gaj. There is nothing to eat or drink and no basic necessities are available.”
The BMP commandant said, “The crane and machinery could not reach the spot due to heavy traffic. However, efforts are being made to run the one-way traffic slowly and it will be restored by the morning.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2020.