CHITRAL: Mastuj-Shandur Road was reopened to vehicular traffic on Wednesday by the communication and works department after clearing the debris of a snow avalanche that had blocked it a month ago.

The road closure had cut the three village councils of Laspur valley from rest of the district.

The village nazims, including Sher Azam Khan, Mubar Shah and Punar Khan, told mediapersons on Wednesday that the closure of the road had put the residents of the valley under siege as it was not possible for them to either enter or leave the valley.

They said patients could not be shifted to hospitals and commodities of daily consumption had started running out in the valley.

They said C&W department started clearing road at different spots simultaneously when falling of avalanches from hills ceased.

They also demanded of the government to put heavy machinery on the road to keep it opened in case of snowfall and avalanches.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2019