MANSEHRA: The people of Dubair and Ranowalia in Lower Kohistan face shortage of food and other essential commodities as the main artery, which was swept away in recent flash floods, could not be rehabilitated so far.

“The populace of over 100,000 individuals settled in Dubair and Ranowalia valleys for centuries have been facing enormous challenges as they are still stranded after the main artery was washed away by floods earlier this year,” Shamsul Haq, a local, told Dawn.

Locals said that the Dubair stream swelled to a dangerous level during current and last year’s monsoon rains that washed away the main artery, linking Dubair and Ranowali valleys with Karakoram Highway.

“This 25-kilometre road, which was washed away by flash floods in 2022, met the same fate during the monsoon rains in current year. It could not be rehabilitated,” said Mr Haq.

Iqbal Saqib, another local, said that there was a scarcity of food and other essential commodities as four-wheelers, the only source of transpiration and travelling in the area, couldn’t find a path to move ahead after the artery was washed away once again in the current year.

“Thousands of families are still stranded at high-altitude mountainous parts of Dubair and Ranowali valleys,” he said.

Mohammad Hassan Jillani, another resident of the area, said that the government should reconstruct that artery. “If the government doesn’t reconstruct this artery, the women, children and elderly people would suffer more,” he added.

NAZIM: The body of former Kundar Hassanzai tehsil nazim Said Mohammad Khan was found in a room adjacent to his residence in Oghi on Saturday night.

He was living in Oghi along with his family for a long. Police rushed to the scene and shifted his body to a nearby health facility after his family informed them.

The body was handed over to the family after doctors completed the medico legal formalities. Police after lodging FIR started investigation and took one of his daughters into custody.

Also, a transporter identified as Khiyal Mohammad allegedly committed suicide in Oghi.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2023