HUNZA, Nov 10: The chief secretary Northern Areas, Fazal Durrani had instructed the concerned departments to expedite the work on Shimshal link road from the KKH and sanctioned around Rs1,20,000 for the construction of a bridge on emergency basis.

The army helicopters are transporting the construction material of the bridge to the area.

The villagers of Shimshal valley said that their village is still devoid of any land link with the rest of the country. They said they had to walk on feet for hundreds of kilometres by crossing high altitude passes, difficult terrain and rivers to reach their valley. In winters, due to heavy snowfall, the valley remains cut-off from the rest of the world, the people added.

However, the people said that sensing the difficulties of people, the Force Commander Northern Areas has recently made arrangements to drop food and medicine to the people with the help of the Army helicopters.