GUJAR KHAN: The residents of Nakka, Kotal Kand and dozens of remote localities of Jhelum district in NA-61 are facing challenges due to the non-availability of proper road links in the hilly terrain of the Salt Range.

The residents lamented that the worst situation is being faced by the denizens of Warrah, Kotal Kund, Kangar, Dhalla and Khairi Rajgan villages, who have lost road communication to surrounding areas.

Muhammad Arif of Village Warrah said that muddy tracks blocked with rocky debris from flowing landslides further aggravate the situation.

According to Muhammad Safdar of Dhalla village, the shifting of dead bodies to their native areas from other cities is a major challenge.

He said that most of the male adults serve in the armed forces and cannot reach their villages in case of a death in the family.

Muhammad Ashraf from Kotal Kund told Dawn that some days ago, retired Subedar Muhammad Afsar passed away in Jhelum city and bringing his body back to Kangar village was the biggest challenge as no ambulance or tractor-trolley could pass through the road.

There was no choice but to carry the body for eight hours on foot through the flooded Wahaan ravine and the narrow, landslide-hit pathway.

Muhammad Mudasar Gondal said that the high schools for girls and boys are located 10km away, beyond the reach of children and the same is the case with the nearest health facility.

There is no question of shifting a patient in childbirth cases, residents added.

They said that in 2017, road construction was started but could not be completed and was later washed away in floods. They further said that in 2021, a road construction tender was advertised, but nothing happened. Mr Gondal added that the issue was also brought to the notice of higher authorities through the prime minister’s portal, but the reply proved to be of little consolation.

Mr Ishfaq Sulehry, the Superintending Engineer (SE) Punjab Highways Rawalpindi, when contacted by Dawn for his comments on the issue, said that the complaints were genuine and that the Punjab government had approved funds for the project, with work expected to start next week.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2025