CHITRAL: The residents of Gobor village in Garam Chashma valley have demanded of the government to post doctor and lady health visitor at the local basic health unit (BHU).

The member of tehsil council from Lot Koh, Khosh Mohammad, told Dawn by telephone that the snow-bound road to the valley was closed to traffic so the patients could be taken to the nearest hospital in Garam Chashma and district headquarters hospital.

He said that the mortality rate of women requiring treatment for complicated delivery had increased during the season as the valley was completely cut-off from the rest of the district.

He said that the local BHU had been without doctor for the last five years and also short of the life saving drugs, increasing the ordeals of the villagers after the heavy snowfall.

The councillor demanded of the government to take steps on emergency basis to address the primary healthcare needs of the people of Gobor valley.

Meanwhile, the three-day winter sports gala in Madak Lusht valley of Chitral, scheduled to commence from February 17, has been cancelled due to rains and snowfall.

In a press statement issued here on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Khurshid Alam Mehsud said that the Sheshi Koh-Madak Lusht Road was prone to landslide and there was risk to drive on the road in the rainy days.

He said that new date for the event would be announced later as per climatic conditions and the clearance of the road from the debris of boulders and snow avalanche.

The official advised the non-local people not to travel to the venue due to the closure of the road and the incessant snowfall.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2019