CHITRAL
After a heavy snowfall in Chitral, the roads to rest of the districts were closed but due to untiring efforts by Deputy Commissioner Chitral Imran Ahmad Khan by utilizing all resources to open up the roads on an emergency basis.
Talking to APP, on phone, Deputy Commissioner Imran Khan disclosed that all roads connecting Chitral to the rest of districts including Dir Upper, Lower, cleared from heavy snow. He said there were fears of avalanches and land sliding even at Boni side, which have been cleared for all types of traffic, soon after the snowfall last week.
He said chances of snow on Saturday and Sunday, preparations have already been made for relief activities all across Chitral, both Upper and Lower wherein some houses have partially been damaged. He said the staff of the district administration is working day and night in order to provide quickly needed relief to the people of Chiral. “I myself monitored all relief activities and opening of roads,” Imran Ahmad Khan said.
He disclosed that due to rain and heavy snowfall Bumburet Valley, Rambur, Ursun, Sheshi Koh, Janjirit Koh, Beuri and other areas had been closed for all types of vehicular traffic. Contractor of NHA cleared the snow from the main highway of Peshawar-Chitral and the roads inside Chitral bazaar, while the C&W Communication and Works Department is clearing the snow from other valleys.
He said Executive Engineer C&W Department Tariq Murtaza and SDO Drosh Waqar Khan, contractor Haider Ali of Drosh Construction Company opened the road from Bomburit valley to Anish, Rambur road to Pondak and Sheshikoh road to Patigal after clearing snow. However, due to continuous land sliding, glaciers on the Sheshikoh road and huge rocks are obstructing the cleaning work but now things have been cleared for all traffic, he added.
Officials of the concerned company worked hard day and night to open the road to Ursun Valley, Jangerit Koh and Beuri for all kinds of traffic.
According to local people, the roads of Kalash valley are with the National Highway Authority, but the snow is being cleared from these roads by the C&W Department.
At present, work on the opening of roads continues in Garm Chashma, Karimabad, Sosum, Madagalsht etc. However, the Missionaries of the C&W Department are working continuously, DC Imran Khan said.
It is hoped that very soon the road to Shishikoh will be completely opened for all types of traffic. It will reduce the problems of the people. He said funds are there and they timely utilized it accordingly by opening up all roads on the basis of their personal influence with the contractors.
When contacted Deputy Commissioner Dir Imran Ali Khan, he said they worked day and night and now all roads are open for traffic. He also appreciated the district administration staff, contractors for removing heavy snow from the Dir side of Lowari Tunnel.
“We had developed a check-post in order to help the travellers, tourists and those stranded due to heavy snowfall on the Chitral side of Lowari Tunnel, “ Assistant Commissioner Usman said.
He said on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Dir Upper all concerned staff are ready to deal with any kind of situation, Assistant Commissioner Headquarter, Dir Upper Usman said.
