THE people of Phander tehsil as well as Upper Ghizer have been facing a lot of trouble in the wake of heavy snowfall and avalanches in recent weeks. The situation is catastrophic, for there is no electricity, no communication, and no way to call for help.

A single dispensary struggles to handle medical emergencies, while the locals have been enduring unimaginable sufferings. To make matters worse, they now face severe food shortages. The local authorities, politicians, bureaucrats and mediapersons have not been seen anywhere in the region, leaving the people in further pain and anguish.

Despite claims of preparedness, not a single piece of heavy machinery has been seen on the ground either. Only one struggling excavator has been assigned the task of clearing debris. In fact, clearing the debris is far beyond the capacity of a single excavator.

Unfortunately, it has been functioning at a snail’s pace; a pace that could take weeks, if not months, to restore access.

While the state remains conspicuously absent, the suffering of Phander’s people has not gone entirely unheard.

To cope with the situation, local volunteers, with sheer determination, are manually clearing snow and repairing damaged infrastructure without machinery and support.

Frustrated people have taken to social media, pleading for help, but the official silence is more deafening than their cries.

This is not just negligence; it is dereliction of duty. The government must immediately declare an emergency, deploy all available resources, and restore roads, electricity and communication.

Zamir Ud Din
Gilgit-Baltistan

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2025