Rain-induced landslides block roads

Locals, including women, and tourists struggle to cross blocked roads in Murree

RAWALPINDI:

Heavy rains have triggered massive landslides, causing inconvenience to tourists and locals.

 Massive landslides also blocked the only road between Murree and Galiyat at various locations, inconveniencing passengers travelling to and from Nathia Gali, Galiayt and Murree.

 According to traffic police, the Abbottabad-Barian road has been closed to traffic after landslides damaged the road at various locations.

 After the blockade, vehicles going to Barian, Ayubia, Nathia Gali and Abbottabad have been stuck at various locations.

 Locals also suffered due to the obstruction of land connectivity between Murree and Galiyat.

 People also face difficulties in taking patients to hospitals.

 Dozens of trees and properties have been damaged by landslides.

 Despite the efforts of the national highways department, rubble could not be removed from various roads.

 The Murree highway administration said that efforts were under way to open the road to Nathia Gali with the help of heavy machinery.

 They said that there was a lot of debris on the road which will take a long time to remove.

 The Murree highway administration asked motorists and tourists, who are staying in Nathia Gali to use the Abbottabad- Mansehra motorway to reach Islamabad and other cities.

 Local citizen Mohsin Abbasi told The Express Tribune that landslides have been going on for the last three days in most areas of Murree.

 He said that due to the rains on Sunday and Monday night, not only new streams have appeared in the mountains, but also the main highways and communication routes have been severely damaged.

 He said that the road from Barian to Abbottabad has completely been damaged by rain-triggered land and mudslides.

 Dozens of houses and other structures in the affected area are feared to be severely damaged.

 Locals said that patients and their families were sitting in ambulances waiting for the roads to open.

 Wasif Abbasi, a resident of Barian, said that the landslide has damaged private and government properties and the electricity system has been disrupted.

 He said that the highway department has only one heavy machine to clear the debris from the roads and the pace of work was very slow.

 He said that if more machinery was not sent to the area, local people may face a shortage of essential items including medicine.

 The locals have asked the federal government to intervene and provide assistance to the local authorities to clear the debris and restore traffic.

 The Murree administration said that they were using all resources to restore traffic as soon as possible.

 Commuters have been advised to contact the local police helpline before travelling to Nathia Gali.

 A large number of tourists from across the country have flocked to Murree and other hill stations to enjoy the pleasant and cool weather.