MANSEHRA: An artificial lake, formed in Mahandri area last week after flash floods in Kaghan and Manor valleys here, is threatening downstream settlements and businesses on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

“Water level in the lake is rising alarmingly, putting nearby infrastructure at risk of inundation,” resident Shakeel Jani told Dawn on Monday.

He said a section of the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, hotels and shops were flooded lately.

The resident complained that the National Highway Authority had yet to drain the lake.

However, authorities claimed efforts were under way to remove floodwaters spread over miles.

The National Highway Authority said it had begun foundations for a permanent steel bridge over the Manor stream in Mahandri.

Also, a temporary pavement at the destroyed bridge’s site facilitated the exit of stranded locals and tourists.

Deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Bittani told reporters that the administration had moved heavy machines to the area to drain floodwater and banned people’s mobility.

“We hope for early resolution of the issue without any damage to public life and property,” he said.

The DC said over 10,000 tourists, stranded in the Kaghan Valley since the June 30 flooding, had left for their respective destinations.

He said only skeleton staff of hotels were present in Naran, the commercial hub of Kaghan Valley.

Mr Bittani said with around 100 vehicles abandoned in both Kaghan and Manor valleys, over 150 people were provided safe passage to move out of the area via temporary pavement in the Manor stream.

“We hope to put up a steel bridge over the stream in 10-12 days,” he said.

The DC said the administration had banned the entry of tourists to Kaghan and Manor valleys until the installation of the steel bridge.

Meanwhile, residents of Torghar district on Monday demanded the immediate reopening of the landslide-hit Judbah-Darband Road to traffic.

“This road, which links Torghar with Mansehra district, was blocked in Nomiakamar area six days ago due to landslides, but authorities have yet to it,” resident Naseeb told reporters in Judbah, the district headquarters of Torghar.

Accompanied by a group of locals, Mr Naseem said people of both Torghar and Mansehra districts suffered due to the road’s closure.

Another resident, Rabnawaz, complained that the matter was taken up with the deputy commissioner but it was still unresolved.

THREE KILLED: A man killed his two wives and a son in the Oghi area here on Monday.

“This triple murder appears to be the result of a domestic issue as the accused wanted to marry for the third time. An investigation is under way to ascertain the cause of murders,” police investigation officer Ashraf Khan told reporters.

In a complaint to police, Naseeb Jan said Gul Samad married his daughter, Noreen Bibi, six years ago but used to quarrel with her as well as his first wife, Shamim Bibi, over domestic issues.

He said the tensions escalated when Samad sought to marry again, leading to a violent confrontation, which left Noreen, her son Zeeshan, and Shamim Bibi dead.

The complainant said the accused fled after the murders.

The police handed over the bodies to the respective families after doctors of the tehsil hospital headquarters hospital in Oghi completed medico-legal formalities.

The police said they had begun a search for the accused after registering an FIR.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2024