MANSEHRA: The artificial lake, formed in the Kunhar River after flash floods in Manor stream here last week, began receding on Friday.

Former local nazim Mushtaq Khan Swati told Dawn that the receding water had allowed machines to clear the waterway downstream to prevent further destruction.

He said the irrigation department, Frontier Works Organisation, and National Highway Authority were busy draining the lake as it didn’t rain in the last few days.

The former nazim said the floodwaters submerged hotels and business centres last week, with his family losing five houses.

Revenue officials assessing damages in flood-hit areas

He said authorities should dredge the Kunhar River to prevent future damage to public life and property in Mahandri, which stood along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

Meanwhile, the revenue department has begun assessing damages in the flood-hit areas, reporting death of two people and destruction of over 30 shops, a dozen houses, five bridges, and three small hydropower units.

The Frontier Works Organisation has almost completed the installation of a steel bridge on the Manor stream to restore traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan that was suspended on July 30.

“Manor and Kaghan Valley are still cut off from the rest of the country due to the destruction of the main bridge on the MNJ Road,” deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Battani told reporters.

He said the bridge’s installation was likely to restore traffic on the road in the next 36 hours.

The DC, however, said tourists and passenger vehicles won’t be allowed to cross the bridge until formally allowed by the administration.

APPOINTMENTS DEMANDED: Residents of Battal and adjoining areas here on Friday demanded the early filling of doctors’ posts lying vacant at the region’s only health facility for years.

“We don’t have access to adequate health services and have to take patients, especially women and children, to hospitals in Mansehra city and other parts of Hazara Division due to the shortage of doctors and other medical staff at the Battal rural health centre,” a resident complained during an open kutcheri organised by the district administration.

Baffa-Pakhal assistant commissioner Nayab Abbasi and heads of the relevant departments heard people’s complaints.

The residents complained that the surge in taxes on land commutation and transfers had brought the sale and purchase of properties to a halt.

They also criticised the tehsil municipal administration over “failure” to provide them with basic facilities of life.

Ms Abbasi promised early resolution of their issues.

PROMOTED: The police department on Friday promoted 116 constables to the rank of head constable and ordered their posting in Mansehra district.

The development came during a meeting of the promotion committee led by Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Sheeraz Khan.

The SP said those promoted would be deployed in police stations and at posts across the district.

Meanwhile, president of the Oghi traders’ body Attaullah Tanoli has said the tehsil administration, in consultation with his community, is shifting the Dilbori bus terminal out of the city.

He told reporters that the initiative was meant to ease traffic mess in the local bazaars, to provide relief to visitors and enhance business.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2024