Fresh rain, snowfall intensify chill: Road closures add to residents’ problems in Dir, Chitral

PESHAWAR: The fresh rain and snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday intensified chill and caused blockade of roads in mountainous areas of the province.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also directed the district administrations to remain alert in the wake of fresh snowfall and rain. The residents of mountainous areas in Upper Dir district and Chitral are facing difficulties owing to the closure of links roads and communication system as well as the scarcity of food items due to heavy snowfall; however, the road leading to Lowari Tunnel, is open to traffic. Many links roads in Doog Darra, Siyasan, Upper parts of Kohistan, Usheri Darra, Upper Brawal, Hattan Darra, Karo Darra, and others are still closed to traffic owing to received heavy snowfall on last Thursday and Friday. Residents said that their areas received snowfall from one to three feet. They said that snow was still lying on link roads in most of their areas roads due to which the arteries were closed to traffic. Muqaddam Khan, a resident of Qulandi, said they were facing a host of problems due to the closure of roads, adding that they were compelled to walk to other areas from their villages. Another resident said that it was very difficult for children, women, old people, and patients to travel on foot.

Residents said that they also faced food shortage in many areas especially in the faraway areas including Doog Darra, parts of Upper Kohistan, Usheri Darra, areas of tehsil Brawal including Bin Darra, Nasrat Darra, Shingara Darra and others. Similarly, the suspension of electricity has multiplied their miseries. Residents said that supply of electricity to many areas including Usheri Darra, Duro, Sheringal, Ghanshaal, Doog Darra, and others has been suspended since the start of snowfall. However, all main roads including Lowari Tunnel road, main Dir-Kohistan road, main Brawal road, and others were open to traffic. Deputy Commissioner Upper Dir, Khalid Iqbal Khattak visited the Lowari Tunnel and examined arrangements made for passengers by the district administration. He directed the Levies personnel and tunnel security staff to take care of the passengers going and coming from Chitral. He, however, advised the drivers to tie chains to tyres when they used the Lowari Tunnel route for traffic because the road conditions were extremely to avoid accidents. Meanwhile, links road in the limits of Dir Municipal Administration were cleared from snow and reopened to traffic. The TMA machinery took part in clearance operation. The TMO Dir, Badshah Zada, supervised the work. He said that KotiBasto road, SiyahNagha road, Rokhan road, Mirashapati road, and others were cleared and opened to traffic.Residents asked the district administration to reopen links road in their respective areas to mitigate their sufferings.