MANSEHRA: The irrigation department on Wednesday began clearing the watercourse to drain water accumulated in the artificial lake created in the Kunhar River due to flash floods in the Manor stream in the Mahandri area last week.

“We’re working cautiously to ensure the safety of settlements, hotels and shops along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road,” deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Battani told reporters.

He said the irrigation department had deployed machines from Peshawar to drain the artificial lake, which emerged on July 30 after the flooding of the Manor stream.

Residents said the Frontier Works Organisation was helping clear the waterway in the Kunhar River and put up a large steel bridge on the Manor stream after the destruction of the old one by flash floods.

Residents complain shops, hotels, part of MNJ still underwater

They, however, complained that shops, hotels, and part of the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road were still underwater.

“The large steel bridge to be installed in three to four days will ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic on the MNJ Road,” Mr Battani said.

He said the administration had restricted the entry of tourists to the Kaghan Valley until the bridge’s installation.

The deputy commissioner urged tourists to follow a travel advisory issued by the district administration.

PROBE ORDERED: Torghar district health officer Dr Mohammad Jamil on Wednesday ordered an inquiry against a medical worker over the death of a minorboy in the Darbandi area.

“A brain surgery allegedly performed by the medical technician of the Darbani basic health unit on the two-year-old boy led to his death,” Dr Jamil told residents during a protest against the death.

The protesters blocked the Judbah-Darband Road in Goya Bazaar.

Judbah assistant commissioner Hasrat Khan and the DHO held talks with them.

The protesters alleged that the medical technician performed the surgery despite the refusal of the child’s family.

They added that doctors in Karachi and Abbottabad also opposed the operation.

Dr Jamil told them that under the rules, a medical technician couldn’t carry out surgical procedures.

He said if the allegation against the worker proved, strict action would be taken against him.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after the assistant commissioner promised them justice.

PROTEST THREATENED: Residents of Ghazikot Township on Tuesday warned if the Mansehra Development Authority didn’t withdraw the recent tax hikes within a week, they would block the Karakoram Highway.

“Without catering to our needs, the MDA excessively increased taxes and fees, much to our misery,” former deputy tehsil nazim Bashiruddin Tanoli told reporters here after a meeting of the township’s residents.

Mr Tanoli complained that the civic agency increased monthly water charges from Rs400 to Rs1,600, while fees for plot and house transfers and non-objection certificates for construction, too, went up manifold.

Meanwhile, MDA assistant director Zakar Hussain Jadoon promised a reasonable reduction in hikes.

“I’ll call a meeting of the finance department to review taxes and fees,” he told residents during a meeting in his office.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2024