SWAT: The youth of Matitltan valley in Kalam on Wednesday rescued around 30 men, who were trapped in Mahodand lake area due to heavy snowfall.

According to the residents of Matlitan valley, all trapped men belonged to Matlitan and had set up makeshift restaurants and tents in Mahodand lake area to serve tourists.

The heavy snowfall, which began on Friday evening and continued until Sunday evening, blocked the road from Matiltan village to Mahodand lake. The area received over eight feet of snow.

“We waited for the district administration to rescue the trapped men but no practical efforts were made by the government. Our elders later decided to send 50 youth to rescue them,” said Rahimullah of Matiltan.

He said the trapped men walked towards their village and reached Awsont area, where the rescue team found them to be hungry and exhausted.

“The rescue team provided the trapped men with food and other necessary stuff before bringing them back to the village,” he said.

The Matlitan villagers said around 100 families were still trapped in Palogah village located on the way to Mahodand lake and were short of essential items, including food.

They said the snowfall caught the people in upper areas of Ushu valley unawares for starting before time this year.

Qari Bilal of Matiltan village said the people in different hamlets near Mahdondad lake didn’t expect heavy snowfall so early and therefore, they didn’t have sufficient supply of essential items, including food.

The residents demanded of the government to make immediate arrangements for the early rescue of the people stranded in Palogah and other areas.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2020