SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/BAJAUR: Landslides triggered by rains blocked the Wana-Gomal Zam Road on Wednesday in Lower South Waziristan district, causing traffic jam and stranding commuters for hours.

District administration said large boulders, mud and debris slid down the hills, particularly in Shin Kori area and its surroundings, rendering the road impassable for all types of vehicles.

The blockage of the vital route severely disrupted connectivity between Dera Ismail Khan and Wana. Several vehicles remained stuck at various points, while passengers continued to face mental distress.

Tribal elders and local transport union members expressed resentment over what they termed negligence of the department concerned.

Transporters claimed the highway department’s staff didn’t arrive at the site to clear the road of debris, forcing them to initiate road clearance effort on self-help basis.

Wana assistant commissioner Mehar Ali Shah said the highway department had been directed to dispatch teams with necessary machinery to clear the road of debris. The elders also called for reconstruction of the Wana-Gomal Zam Road due to its deteriorating condition. They stressed the road was a critical trade corridor linking Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The elders demanded that the road be included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and handed over to the National Highway Authority for its quality reconstruction.

Wana-Gomal Zam Road serves as one of the most important commercial arteries of Lower South Waziristan. Every day, thousands of trucks loaded with vegetables, fruits, and other trade goods travel through this road.

Meanwhile, the tehsil municipal administration on Wednesday began removing debris from the landslide-hit Khar-Barang Road in hilly Barang subdivision of Bajaur district.

“Clearance work on the Khar-Barang Road, which was blocked by landslides triggered by recent rains, began on the directives of PTI MPA Eng Ajmal Khan,” according to a statement from the office of the lawmaker, who also belongs to Barang.

The statement said a TMA team accompanied by heavy machinery began clearing the road of debris.

Residents of Barang called for expediting the work to make the road passable for traffic as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2025