MANSEHRA: A huge landslide triggered by a cloudburst near the Saiful Muluk Lake on Friday blocked the main road, stranding over 200 tourists for several hours.

“Over 50 jeeps carrying tourists to the high-altitude areas of the valley got stuck due to the landslide, so we moved heavy machinery to clear the artery that connects Naran with the Saiful Muluk Lake,” Kaghan Development Authority deputy director Asad Shahzad told reporters.

He said the road was cleared within three hours of receiving the emergency call.

The official said the cloudburst caused the landslide to block the road for two to three points with boulders and rocks.

Artery cleared after several hours

“The tourists who had gone to see sights in high-altitude areas, especially the Saiful Muluk Lake, got marooned. They, however, moved down to Naran after the road was cleared,” he said.

Meanwhile, the district administration on Friday reviewed safety arrangements at rafting sites along the Kunhar River in Naran and warned of a crackdown on the violation of tourist safety protocols.

“All those providing rafting services are registered with the government. We have warned them to ensure the safety of rafters by providing trained instructors and life jackets,” assistant commissioner of Balakot Nadar Khan told reporters during a visit to Naran, the commercial hub of Kaghan Valley.

The official checked the licences and no-objection certificates issued by authorities to the companies offering drafting services in the Kunhar River.

“You must exercise extreme caution, especially during the ongoing monsoon season, as rivers and streams can suddenly swell, threatening people’s lives,” he said.

Mr Khan said the deputy commissioner had directed all assistant commissioners and relevant departments to ensure that no one swims or gets dangerously close to rivers and streams anywhere in the district.

He said that rafting companies must not allow anyone to participate in the activity unless they strictly follow the standard operating procedures.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of tourists while promoting tourism in the Kaghan Valley as one of our top priorities,” he said.

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS: The chairmen of tehsil councils in Torghar district on Friday complained about a severe shortage of teachers in the local primary, middle and high schools and called on the government to ensure quality education for boys and girls.

“The locals had welcomed the transition of our tribal status to a settled district in 2011 with hopes for prosperity and development. However, we are still far behind, especially in education, which is the backbone of societal progress,” Haji Mohammad Khan, tehsil chairman of Judbah, told reporters.

He said that despite the passage of over 14 years since Kala Dhaka was renamed Torghar and granted settled district status, meaningful development in key sectors, particularly education, remained elusive.

“In the education department, the male alone, 145 teaching posts have been lying vacant for years. Shockingly, 58 government primary, middle, and high schools are operating without head teachers or principals,” he added.

Tehsil council chairman in Dor Mera Maulana Shahzamin said Torghar had 78 girls’ schools but most of them were short of teachers, with six abandoned altogether,” he said.

He added that many schools had one teacher only.

Mr Shahzamin urged the government to introduce special recruitment to fill teacher vacancies with members of the local communities.

Kunder Hassanzai tehsil council chairmanMoman Gulcomplained that the district didn’t even have a single college for boys or girls 14 years after being declared a settled district.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2025