MINGORA: The 15 kilometers long road linking several villages of Kabal tehsil to other parts of Swat district has long been in bad shape to the misery of local residents.

The people complained the road from Kabal bazaar to Langar village was pitted with potholes turning its use by motorists very difficult and dangerous at the same time.

“The road’s condition is so bad that we can’t call it a road. Rather, it’s a path full of rubbles and soil,” said Ali Shah, a resident of Sersenai village. He said the road needed early reconstruction instead of repair.

Hassan Zeb, who also lives in Sersenai, said dilapidated condition of the major road stressed out motorists, especially patients.

“I know many, who died of critical illness, only because the ramshackle road prevented their speedy shifting to the hospital,” he said.

Villagers call for road’s reconstruction not repair

The villager said pregnant women were worst affected by the poor condition of the road.

He said the people’s repeated requests to their elected representatives for getting the road repaired or rebuilt had fallen on deaf ears. Former tehsil nazim Jafar Khan said high incidence of traffic accidents was reported on the road.

Some villagers claimed the last government had approved the road’s reconstruction but the current government cancelled the plan. Motorists complained the bumpy road damaged their vehicles.

“Every week, we’ve to take our vehicle to workshop for repairs due to the dilapidated road,” said van driver Aitebar Gul.

Motorists demanded early reconstruction of the road.

When contacted, local MPA Mohibullah Khan said contract for the road’s reconstruction had been awarded and that work on it would begin shortly.

MINORS INJURED: Two children were critically injured in a hand grenade blast in Koza Bandai area of Kabal tehsil on Thursday.

The local police said the injured, including Wali Rehman and Nadeem, found the hand grenade while playing in the fields.

They said the minors were under treatment at the Saidu Teaching Hospital for crucial injuries.

The police said they registered a case and began investigation.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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