Roads blocked by landslides reopened

Authorities successfully cleared blocked roads caused by landslides in Dir Upper and Swabi districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Sunday.

In the remote Gadoon Amazai area of Swabi, 15 instances of landslides occurred, resulting in the closure of the 70-kilometer Topi-Nara Amazai Road at multiple points.

The district administration worked tirelessly day and night to reopen the road, which has become a routine issue in the area, causing great hardship to local residents.

Despite facing severe financial constraints for the past three years, the construction and works department’s staff had been present in the region for ten days, and with the help of local contractors, they managed to clear the road on a self-help basis.

Similarly, in Dir Upper district of K-P, the authorities successfully restored traffic on Kumrat Road, which was blocked due to landslides following heavy rainfall. However, for the safety of tourists, authorities have advised against traveling during the night.

It is noteworthy that Kumrat Valley, known for its scenic beauty, still lacks a paved road despite the PTI’s nine-year rule in the province and multiple groundbreaking ceremonies conducted by the former chief minister Mahmood Khan. This major road infrastructure limitation remains a significant obstacle in developing Kumrat Valley into a world-class tourist resort.

Efforts to address road blockages caused by natural events like landslides are commendable, but the need for proper road development and infrastructure in picturesque areas like Kumrat Valley is essential for the region’s growth as a prominent tourist destination.

Background

On Monday, two people lost their lives in a landslide incident in Swat. The previous day, six more fatalities were reported due to rain-related incidents in two districts of K-P.

The PDMA disclosed that four individuals tragically lost their lives when a roof collapsed in Mansehra, while two others were buried under a landslide in Bahrain Tehsil, Swat district.

In another heartbreaking incident, five people were rescued from beneath the debris of a landslide that had struck a house in the Madain area. Regrettably, two of the rescued victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The disaster’s severity became evident when the death toll rose from four on Saturday to 10 within 48 hours on Sunday, and eventually reaching 15 by Tuesday. The floods and heavy rains also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and homes.

Among the affected structures, the main bridge connecting Chitral to Boni, an under-construction bridge in Shamsi Khan area, and the Shringal-Kumrat road in Kalkot, Chitral, suffered destruction. In Shangla, the Alpuri-Bisham main highway, along with roads to Spina Kada and Ranyal, were impacted by flooding and landslides. The Karakorum Highway, a vital artery connecting the region, was also affected.

In response to the crisis, a massive relief operation was launched in the Chitral region, prioritizing the relocation of vulnerable individuals to safer areas. Additionally, affected families were being provided with dried ration supplies to meet their immediate needs.

The provincial government swiftly allocated Rs60 million in aid to the rain-hit districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2023.