CHITRAL: The residents of Upper Yarkhoon valley on Saturday started to clear the road of snow to restore vehicular traffic after it was blocked last week following heavy snowfall.

The people complained the communication and works department had yet to start work on clearance of snow, boulders and snow avalanches, forcing them to embark on the restoration work on self-help basis.

They said residents from Patrangaz village to Broghil had taken it upon themselves to clear the road in the jurisdiction of their respective villages.

They said when a resident of Broghil died in a village of Yarkhoon, it took almost two days to take his body to his village due to blockade of the road.

Meanwhile, road to the Garam Chashma valley has been restored for light vehicular traffic, while the sub-valleys of Siah Arkari, Susoom, Parsan, Madaklasht in Lower Chitral and Khot, Rech, Upper Terich in Upper Chitral are yet to be reopened to traffic.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2024