MANSEHRA: Around 800 stranded tourists left Kaghan valley for destinations on Monday morning after the administration cleared the avalanches-hit Mansehra-Naran Road in Palandrian area.

“Avalanches blocked the MNJ Road in Kaghan valley on Sunday evening, so around 800 tourists travelling in around 110 vehicles got stuck there all through the night. We cleared the road of snow at around 8am prompting the resumption of traffic,” deputy commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan told reporters here on Monday.

Dr Qasim, who visited the MNJ Road, said the rescue and relief operations launched by the district administration continued the entire night.

“The Chinese company and personnel of Sindh Regiment deployed at the Suki Kinari hydropower project extended all sorts of help during the rescue and relief operations and provided six excavators and shovel machines to clear the road,” he said.

DC says traffic restored on avalanche-hit artery

The deputy commissioner said a tourist, who had fallen unconscious after walking in the snow, was provided with medical aid, while breakfast was served to all tourists.

He said the negligence of the National Highway Authority and Kaghan Development Authority during the tough climatic conditions had left the district administration with no option but to seek support of the Chinese company in clearing the road.

He said four ambulances remained on standby all through the night to handle any untoward situation in the valley and escorted tourist vehicles to Mansehra.

“I’ll advise visitors to Kaghan valley to follow the guidelines issued by the district administration from time to time for own safety, especially during the winter season,” said he said.

FUNDS OKAYED: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved Rs70 million funds for the construction of the Danda-Banda Road in Torghar district.

“Work on the road meant to link around 50 villages with Judbah area will begin soon,” chairman of the district development advisory committee and MPA Laiq Mohammad Khan told a public meeting in Danda Bandar area here on Monday.

He said Torghar was made a settled district from a tribal belt in 2011 but it continued to be without health and educational facilities and roads.

Mr Laiq said the government had approved Rs10 million for the construction of a road to Asharo Markaray village and work on it would start shortly.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2020