MANSEHRA: The Karakoram Highway was closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday in Upper Kohistan district due to massive landslides causing long queues of vehicles.

The closure of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and link roads was also reported in the region due to the floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains.

Vehicle got stuck on both sides of the Karakoram Highway in Upper Kohistan after landslides blocked it in Tata Pani area, which borders Gilgit-Baltistan.

Trucker Mohammad Azhar told reporters that he and scores of other motorists had been waiting for the reopening of the highway for many hours.

He said traffic between GB and KP had been blocked to the landslide-induced KKH closure.

Meanwhile, the administrations of Mansehra and Kohistan districts have asked the residents, especially those settled along the Indus, Kunhar and Siren rivers, to take precautionary measures against flash floods.

The residents said the Booth Khatta stream swelled due to heavy rains inundating houses in the nearby Channia and other areas in Mansehra city.

Mohammad Arif said floodwaters had damaged houses.

He also said the Kunhar River was flooded destroying slum houses built on its banks in Kaghan-Balakot region. However, no damage to public life was reported.

The flooded streams also blocked traffic on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road in Banda and Bassal Kharian areas.

The administration of Balakot tehsil urged the people living on the banks of the Kunhar River to move to safer places.

The residents said the swollen Indus River in Gigal area had threatened a suspension bridge, which linked Lower Kohistan district with Kolai-Pals district.

Badar Zaman said if water flow didn’t recede, then the bridge’s safety columns would be damaged or destroyed.

POWER PROTEST: The residents protested prolonged power cuts here for the second day on Saturday with traders observing a complete shutter-down strike.

The protesters blocked the Darband-Oghi Road suspending traffic for long hours.

Shouting slogans against Pesco, they demanded immediate restoration of electric supply.

The protesters also complained about low voltage.

The mob dispersed after the Pesco disconnected Karori feeder from Darband feeder to address power cuts and low voltage.

BURIED: Head constable of the Elite Force Binyamin, who was martyred in a police van explosion in Peshawar, was laid to rest in his native Khawajgan area here on Saturday.

The funeral prayers were attended by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hazara Range, Mirvais Niaz, district police officer Asif Bahadur and scores of residents.

A police contingent presented the guard of honour to the martyred cop and fired in the air to pay homage to him.

The DIG later laid a wreath on the grave.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2021