LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Oct 18: Lack of funds and heavy equipment is hampering repair work on the damaged portion of the Peshawar-Landi Kotal railway track, it is learnt.

The century-old track was badly damaged on June 28 when floodwater washed away a major portion of the earth supporting it between Landi Kotal and Jamrud tehsil.

The flood water also damaged some railway bridges in the area.

Besides, most of the fish plats were taken away by the local people after the flood.

Officials of the railway department in Peshawar told Dawn that the repair work needed a huge amount.

“The damage is beyond our scope and resources,” they said, adding that the department had approached the federal government for funds.

They said the repair work also required heavy machinery as it could not be done manually and it would take about one year to complete the work.

The department has abandoned its weekly service to Landi Kotal because of insufficient number of passengers.

However, the Sarhad tourism department has started a Khyber safari service for foreign and local tourists, but its fares were beyond the reach of ordinary people.