Lower Kohistan Road closure add to people’s miseries

MANSEHRA: The dwellers of Dubair valley in Lower Kohistan have been facing health-related issues as the five basic health units and rural health centres, which were washed away in the 2022 flash floods, are yet to be reconstructed.

“The fresh rain spell, which has cut off the upper parts of the valley with Karakoram Highway, has multiplied the problems of the dwellers of the valley,” said Dr Abdul Hadi, the Health Department’s coordinator in Lower Kohistan said.

Four Basic Health Units and a Rural Health Centre were washed away in Ranolia, Dubair Central, Kiyal and Mujgali villages by flash floods in August 2022.The Dubair valley has been cut off with the rest of Lower Kohistan following landslides triggered by the recent rains.

Dr Hadi said the Health Department had established a mobile healthcare unit with the help of UNICEF for six months following the natural calamity that hit the valley in 2022. The chairman of Upper Dubair village council, Juma Shah Jalali said the people of the valley were suffering due to landslides at the artery linking it with the Karakoram Highway.

“The residents of a Nabil Jamra village have shifted to safer places owing to continuous landslides in recent rains but the district administration is yet to initiate the rescue and relief activities in the area,” he added.