Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road cleared for traffic

District Administration Mansehra, the National Highways Authority (NHA) and Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) cleared the blocked Mansehra Naran Jalkhad (MNJ) road on Thursday for all sorts of traffic.

According to the reports, MNJ road was blocked for traffic due to the land sliding which was triggered by the heavy downpour at Naran, Soach and Jhalkhand road of Tehsil Balakot. Around 150-200 vehicles carrying families were stuck in the area of land sliding.

District Administration Mansehra began a road clearance operation with the joint efforts of KDA, NHA, Rescue 1122 and Police under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Balakot.

The tourists including women and children were shifted to safe places at Bahser and Barawai where food items were also distributed among the tourists and rooms were also provided to them for their stay.

After the hectic efforts of District Administration Mansehra, the heavy slides have been cleared via heavy machinery and the road has been cleared for traffic.

Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi said he had asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government to establish a tourist centre at Balakot to promote the history of brave heroes.

The president along with his tweet shared a photograph where can be seen offering Fateha at the graves of martyrs of Balakot of 1831, including Syed Ahmed Barelvi and Shah Ismail.

Dr Alvi paid tribute to the martyred heroes who rose against the British Raj and against Maharaja Ranjit Singh. "Have asked KP government to establish tourist centre in Balakot to educate Pakistanis about our history of independence and our brave heroes," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2022.