MANSEHRA: A landslide triggered by heavy rains damaged dozens of houses in a village and blocked the Karakoram Highway in Upper Kohistan district on Monday.

However, no damage to public life was reported.

The Pani Bah village was hit by a wave of mud and large stones, which broke away from a mountain, according to local SHO Noor Nabi Shah.

He told reporters that the police rushed to the village after getting an emergency call about the landslide.

“A mass of mud and stones hurtled down the mountain blocking the KKH and damaging dozens of houses in the village,” he said.

SHO says no one hurt as people fled to safety

The SHO, however, said no one was unhurt as villagers managed to flee to safety. He said the people travelling within the province and between it and Gilgit-Baltistan remained stranded on the KKH for more than five hours before mud and large stones were moved from the highway.

Mr Shah said the Pani Bah village stood along the river Indus and the Karakoram Highway and therefore, landslides could sweep away houses.

He claimed the police helped villagers, including those whose houses were damaged, move to safety.

Meanwhile, the district administration started a survey to assess the downpour-induced damage to public property in Oghi, Shinkiari, Perhana, Safada and adjoining areas.

It also initiated payment of Rs1 million compensation each to the families of five people, who were killed in rain-related incidents in the district.

Oghi residents said their life was virtually paralysed by Sunday’s heavy rain.

They said rainwater flooded streets and entered houses and shops damaging goods. Traders demanded the rain-hit areas in tehsil be declared calamity-hit one.

PETITION: The All Primary Teachers Association on Monday announced that it would move the Peshawar High Court against changes to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Appointment, Promotions and Transfers Rules, 1989.

“The government removed a section from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Appointment, Promotions and Transfers Rules, 1989, to deprive us [teachers] of the right to decline promotion and continue working in their positions, so we’re going to challenge it in the court of law,” APTA president Ahtesham Allai told teachers of the district in a meeting here.

He said government employees were previously entitled to decline promotions and stay put.

“We [teachers] will take up the issue with the director (education) and if the issue is not resolved, the court will be petitioned against the rule change, which violates our fundamental human rights,” he said.

Meanwhile, police on Monday arrested two men over the murder of a ninth grade student in Garhi Habibullah area here.

Hashim, 14, was allegedly beaten to death at a deserted place.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2023