BAJAUR: The residents of several areas of Khar tehsil on Thursday demanded reconstruction of a bridge that was washed away during recent flash floods.

Taking to reporters, a group of people from various villages of Khar tehsil, including Mena, Mandal, Malizo and Kooroo, said that the recent flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, had completely destroyed the small bridge on the Zoor Bandai River linking to the rest of the district that the local community had built on self-help basis about a year ago.

Led by the local PTI senior leader, Haji Shamusul Haq, the residents asserted that the bridge’s demolition, which occurred two days ago, was causing a lot of inconvenience to thousands of people of the localities as it was the only link to the rest of the district. “The destruction of the bridge, built by locals through donations, has plunged villagers of several areas into great trouble, suspending all movements, particularly vehicular traffic,” he added

Accusing the district administration and local lawmakers of ignoring the issue, Haji Shamusul Haq alleged that despite multiple contacts, the senior officials, the local MNA and MPA didn’t respond.

The residents demanded of the provincial government, the district administration and the local lawmakers to take serious notice of the issue in order to start work on the bridge at the earliest. They said, “We humbly request the provincial government, particularly the chief minister, as well as senior officials of the district administration to take immediate notice and direct the relevant quarters to immediately start work to restore the bridge.”

Meanwhile, in a statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office on Thursday, the district administration clarified that it was not only aware of the destruction of the bridge during the recent rains but was also deeply concerned about the peoples suffering.

“The district administration and public representatives are working on it to approve the bridge’s reconstruction from any available source as soon as possible, but development work inevitably takes time,” the statement added.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2025