Stranded: Residents protest against severed road connection

Threaten to block Besham-Swat route if the problem is not addressed within a week.

SHANGLA: The only bridge that connects three union councils from Besham to Shangla has broken down, causing immense difficulties for residents.

As a result, people of Kormang, Chachlu, Shah Tot and Sangrai held a protest on Thursday. The demonstration was attended by a large number of participants who shouted slogans against elected representatives of  the area.

Vehicular traffic has been suspended while locals worry the situation could lead to more tragedies.

Elders of the area, including Hameedur Rehman and Arif Khan, addressed the protesters and said scores of people were relying on the sole road connection between Besham and Shangla.

The elders blamed the district administration for not taking notice of the long-standing issue.



“Accidents on the bridge have resulted in the loss of several lives, and yet the district administration has failed to take steps to redress the issue. We have raised the issue with them several times,” added Rehman.

According to Khan, food shortages have also surfaced, and people are unable to take patients to hospitals. If the bridge is not repaired within a week, protesters will be forced to block the road from Besham to Swat, Khan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2013.