Overflowing stream claims student’s life in Balakot
PHOTO:FILE
A 13-year-old student Anam Bibi died while crossing a stream to reach school in Bhonja Valley located in the vicinity of the famed Kaghan Valley.
The incident occurred as the stream was overflowing for the last few days due to heavy rains. Many other students have lost their lives during the past few years.
Anam was a student of Grade 7th and used to go to school every day like other students, putting her life in danger. Unfortunately, on Saturday she couldn’t reach there.
She slipped and fell into the stream. After the incident, locals rescued her and rushed her to the hospital where she died.
Bhonja Valley, which is a beautiful valley in Balakot, lacks basic facilities like bridges and cemented roads. Dozens of students who study at Bhonja High School cross the stream every day to get an education.
Anam, daughter of Mohammad Anwar, used to walk three kilometers to school.
Residents said that Anam’s death is a big question mark on the performance of former local body representatives from Bhonja and Sardar Mohammad Yousuf, Syed Ahmed Hussain Shah, Saleh Mohammad Khan and other representatives who reached the legislative assemblies with immense support from the villagers. It has been a long time but they could not even build a bridge for the students.
Read: Crumbling bridge poses threat to users
A social worker and resident of Bhonja Valley, Mujeebur Rehman, said there is a dire need to build a bridge for these students who put their lives in danger to reach school.
Bhonja Valley, situated around 3,000 metres above sea level and at a distance of 40km from Balakot, is home to a beautiful landscape boasting natural attractions such as snow-capped mountains, gushing waterfalls, clear streams and boundless green meadows.
Former Nazim Bhonja Ilyas Ahmed said that while nature has blessed the valley with unparalleled beauty, the apathy of the locally elected representatives has resulted in total disappointment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2022.