KARACHI, Oct 18: Dharra, a small village facing the morning sun and climbing a small hillock in Agrore valley, residents say, is no more. As a young boy when I travelled from Mansehra to Oghi, many villages and hamlets caught my attention. Hamshirian, Bherkund, Khaki, Susul Galli, Dheri Maloga, all were captivating one way or another. But Dharra was the one that fascinated me the most.

The road was steep and winding before it began climbing down at the Gulli, and it took a long time to cover the distance. We looked forward to the moment when our vehicle would splash through the rivulet and we receive its clean, glassy water on our hands and faces through the windows. Next to it was Dharra.

Set a few yards from the road connecting Mansehra with Thakot, the town that straddles the Indus near Besham, Dharra appeared to be terraced. Built with sandstone and timber and plastered with mud, most of the sturdy houses served as courtyards to those at a higher level.

In winter, smoke billowed from their chimneys as people would burn pinewood to cook and keep themselves warm. Over the years the houses changed their shape, opting for modern concrete structures and new designs, and spreading to the adjoining fields at the foot of the Bhalol mountain. The sandy stream below dried up as people learned how to tap water for farming.

When the earthquake rocked the valley, these houses would have escaped with minor damage as many others did. But the whole village slid down into the riverbed. Probably there was time enough for the population to run to safety as only 12 deaths were reported.

Seeing the devastation caused by the 10/8 tragedy in Balakot, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, etc, the loss of a small village does not merit much attention. What happened to it could be likened to the fate of Margalla Tower. The Tower was apparently not strong enough as buildings around it did not suffer much damage.

Similarly, no village in a vast area around Dharra suffered as much damage. The hapless Dharra!

It is, however, hoped that the village will not be lost sight of when rehabilitation efforts get under way.