TOBA TEK SINGH: Traffic on a temporary boat bridge built at Bhussi Kathia (a small town in Kamalia tehsil) on the Ravi in November 2021 to connect it with Chak 117/7 DR located in Kassowal tehsil (Sahiwal), has been suspended after the increase in water level in the river.

A local -- Asif Kathia -- told this correspondent on Saturday that the bridge had reduced at least 50-km distance between Bhussi Kathia and Kassowal.

He said: “Traffic moves to Bhussi Kathia from Adda Waroana, located some 20 kilometers on Kamalia-Chichawatni road, and after crossing the Ravi through the boat bridge, at least 20-km travel distance shortens as Kassowal is just 10-km away from the bridge.”

An area farmer -- Mian Asad Hafiz -- said wooden pieces laid on the boat bridge had been removed and kept by the irrigation department staff so that after the end of flood season, the bridge could again be made functional after reassembling it.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2022