Bridge collapse impacts tourism in Kaghan

Leaves one of Pakistan's largest tourism hubs deserted

BALAKOT:

The Kaghan Valley, Pakistan's largest tourism hub, remains deserted despite being in the peak tourist season.

The primary cause is the lack of a bridge on the Kaghan Highway in Mahandri, which has severed the valley's connection to Balakot for five consecutive days.

This disconnection has severely impacted the residents of the valley. The provincial government and the National Highway Authority have failed to construct a temporary bridge to cross the canal, despite the critical nature of the situation.

High water levels in Bani Lake, situated in the Kunhar River, have led to the submersion of many hotels and the washing away of several shops. The administration's efforts to save the sinking bridge were thwarted by their inability to clear the embankment, which was blocked by debris from Munawar Nullah flowing into the Kunhar River.

The administration has attempted to construct a temporary bridge over the canal three times, but the swift water flow has thwarted these efforts. After five days, a zip line was finally installed across Munawar Nullah, allowing people to cross.

The hotel industry and businesses in Naran and the surrounding areas are suffering significant losses due to the non-restoration of the Kaghan Highway. In the wake of the Mahandri bridge being washed away, the Naran Hotel Association took the initiative to provide free accommodations for four days to stranded tourists in Naran, treating them as guests and offering full services to ensure their comfort.

Despite these efforts, the administration and related institutions have fallen short of public expectations.

They have not developed an alternative plan to reconnect Pakistan's largest tourist hub with the centre.

Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Tourism Adviser, and other officials visited Mahandri to assess the situation, but no substantial progress has been made. The continuous road closures have resulted in food shortages and difficulties in transferring patients, posing a significant challenge to the people of Kaghan Valley.

The flood-induced destruction has severely impacted the business community in Mahandri. According to the Information Secretary of Anjuman Tajran Mahandri, 18 shops have been completely washed away, and over 40 are severely affected.