MINGORA: The tourists and local residents have demanded of the district administration to clear Kalam Road of snow on regular basis for smooth travel to the valley.

They said that the road remained covered with snow at some points near Kalam valley due to which motorists faced difficulties.

“We found the maximum road clear of the snow from Bahrain to Kalam but at two points our car slipped and after a lengthy struggle we managed to move further with the help of some local youth, who pushed our car,” said Waqar Hashim, a tourist from Lahore, who was Kalam with his family to enjoy snowfall.

Kalam, these days, is thronged with tourists from different parts of the country because the valley bathed with snow giving a beautiful look.

“Its beauty is matchless during the snowfall season. People of the valley are also cooperative and good. However, we had a hard and difficult time when we were entering the valley where the last descent was slippery,” said Shahab Khan, another tourist, who visited Kalam with his friends.

He said that on return, they faced the same problem at the same spot because the road was slippery.

The residents of Kalam also complained about the slippery road.

They said that only four wheel drive vehicles or those with chains around its tyres could travel on the road.

“Daily, we help tourists by pushing their cars. It is dangerous and cars may slip down to the river. This is the responsibility of district administration to keep this site clear of ice so that people can visit Kalam without any danger,” said Inayatullah, a local resident, who along with his friends was helping tourists.

However, Assistant Commissioner Karim Bakhsh told this scribe that a proper contract was awarded for clearing the road and the contractor was responsible for keeping the road clear of snow.

“I will direct him to clear the road of snow immediately and to keep the dangerous spots regularly clear so that vehicles of the tourists and public transport can smoothly travel to Kalam,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2019