Hundreds of villagers living along Nathiagali-SehrRoad have complained of facing transport issues due to the landslides that have blocked the road for over two weeks.
Addressing the media on Friday, former union councillor Sardar Mushtaq said landslides caused by the recent spell of heavy rains in the Galiyat have blocked the four-kilometre Nathiagali-Sehr Road for traffic.
Thousands of people from nearly four villages and small localities, including Kala Ban, Jaswara and Sehr, have been facing problems in reaching Nathiagali and other parts of Abbottabad because of the blockade.
Sardar Mushtaq added that the strip of road between Bariyan and Choriyan has been badly affected as mudslides covered the road at two points. The retention walls have also sunk, making the road look like an ancient remain and bringing traffic to a halt.
Social activist Sardar Khalid said villagers have to carry daily-use items and fuel containers as vehicles cannot commute due to the roadblock.
School-going children and patients are the worst sufferers. Patients are taken to hospitals on cots while children cover the 4km distance to their schools on foot.
Sardar Khalid claimed locals have informed their MPA, Sardar Idrees, who also serves as the district development committee’s chairman, and MNA Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who serves as National Assembly deputy speaker, but both of them are yet to take action.
Khalid also pointed out that the 2km road from Mochi Dhara to Jaswara is also blocked due to landslides. The road falls under the jurisdiction of the Communication and Works department that clears snow and maintains the road throughout the year, but the department is yet to start work despite repeated complaints from locals, he lamented.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.
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