KHYBER: More than 10,000 Bar Qambarkhel people of Tirah valley have been stranded in their homes since early January due to travel restrictions and excessive snow on roads.

Sources in the region told Dawn that about 10,400 individuals of at least 1,400 families residing between Haidar Kandaw Pass and Thor Thot on border with Kurram district were awaiting official assistance for their evacuation with Haidar Kandaw Pass that was blocked due to snow.

They said that the road leading to Kurram district via Thor Thot village was also blocked owing to deep trenches dug by security forces since the start of displacement of families from other parts of Tirah valley.

They said that villages where residents had been stranded since early January included Nakai, Darota, Chargo Cheena, Mathrai, Koza Mathrai, Zangi Kallay, Haidar Kallay, Mantha Kallay, Nakai Darchony, Alai Mela, Mashrana Kallay, Salim Khanai, Kotki Kallay Amarzai Kallay, Yaga Mela, Jout Kallay, Taju Kallay, Cheengai Kallay, Fakhar Kallay and Thangu Kallay.

People complain about shortage of food, medicines

Qari Naurang, a resident of the region, told Dawn that road blockade caused acute shortage of food and other essential items in the area while people were also in need of medicines for patients, both elderly and children.

He said that residents of those areas would go to Kurram for bringing food and other items of their daily use prior to start of evacuation and heavy snowfall. “We have exhausted all our food stock in our houses and are now facing numerous problems due to delay in evacuation,” he added.

Mr Naurang said that young local volunteers were trying to clear snow from the road leading to Haidar Kandaw Pass to enable stranded people to reach Bagh Maidan and travel further to Bara.

He said that a bridge in Amrezi area was also damaged by excessive snow and locals had either to walk on foot to cross over to Kurram district or use mules and donkeys for bringing daily use items from nearby markets in Kurram.

Said Wali, another resident of the area, said that not a single family had so far left its house as people were waiting for the district administration to make adequate arrangements for their evacuation.

He said that Bar Qambarkhel tribesmen wanted the road leading to Kurram to be opened for them as that was the shortest and safe route to get out of the troubled Tirah valley.

He also demanded establishment of a separate registration point for them at Thor Thot or any other convenient point as it was near to impossible for them to travel to Bagh Maidan with Haidar Kandaw covered with nearly three feet of snow.

Meanwhile, the district administration announced on Wednesday that all the five registration centres in Paindi Cheena and Bara would be closed on Thursday (today) in connection with Kashmir Day holiday.

Earlier, the district administration had designated separate days for different tribes to receive their transport fare from Alangudar centre in Bara.

According to the new schedule, Zakhakhel, Malakdinkhel, Bar Qambar, Shalobar and Adamkhel-Kamarkhel tribes would get their transport fare on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively.

The new schedule was drafted after repeated incidents of scuffle and protests due to rush at the centre with the recipients accusing the staff of unduly prolonging the process of payment.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2026