Fears looming as river eats up road to Upper Chitral

PESHAWAR: Uncertainty prevailed in Upper Chitral as the gushing river is about to sweep away the main road connecting the district with the rest of the country at Reshun village.

The political leaders and social workers in the valley have been holding meetings and rallies over the last several months to make the government act but to no avail.

“The entire valley will run short of essentials and a crisis-like situation will occur if timely steps are not taken to save the road from annihilation,” said Nabi Khan, a social worker in Reshun village.

He said it would not be possible for the government to rebuild the road in a year if prompt steps were not taken to save it from being washed away.

“Many families have become homeless as the ferocious river continues to devour the land,” he added.

The district administration through a letter had asked the government to take measures to save the road but no steps could be taken thus far.

The political leaders, members of civil society and journalists at a meeting in Peshawar also urged the government to take prompt steps to save the road.

The participants in the meeting expressed concern over the deteriorating situation arising out of the imminent destruction by the river at Reshun point and the inordinate delay on the part of the government to tackle the lurking crisis.

The speakers said that the river erosion could cause vast destruction, including the widespread soil erosion, destruction of road, houses, forests and agricultural land if corrective measures were not taken on an emergency basis.

“I have been warning both federal and provincial governments to realise the gravity of the situation and take measures to save the vital road but to no avail,” said Member National Assembly Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, adding, a humanitarian crisis was evolving in the region due to the apathy of the government. “Even the Shandur festival will not take place if the road was not saved,” he said.