SHANGLA: The residents of Shangla district have flayed the administration and the communication and works department over the delay in removal of debris of landslides from link roads in many villages.

The roads linking major towns to different villages were blocked at multiple points due to landslides triggered by recent rains. While some roads have been cleared by the communication and works department, most are still blocked.

Taj Nabi of Landai Jai area of Bisham city said he was transporting a family to Bisham Bazaar from his village when his vehicle was hit by a landslide. Luckily, no one was hurt in the incident, he said, adding local people rushed to the spot and helped him pull out the van from debris.

Irfan Babu, a resident of Pir Khana, said the only road connecting Kana tehsil with Alpuri via Lilownai was blocked at multiple locations due to landslides for last two weeks.

He said on Sunday the residents started removing debris from the road after the authorities failed to clear it of landslides.

Abid Yar of Pir Abad, Alpuri, said a road linking their village with the main town was still blocked. However, he said the locals opened the main road linking Pir Abad and Pagorai with Bely Baba Alpuri on self-help basis. He said the deputy commissioner promised to pay Rs200,000 for the purpose, but to no avail.

Abdul Samad, a resident of Lilownai area, said link roads of many villages were still blocked.

The people said they had removed the debris from some link roads, but heavy boulders were still there, which could be removed by heavy machinery.

Bisham assistant commissioner Adnan Khan was not available on his mobile phone for his comment on the issue.

MISSING BOY FOUND: A boy from Banar area, who had been missing for a week, was found in unconscious condition in Charbagh area of Swat on Monday morning.

Liaqat Ali Mashkoor, a relative of Jawad Hussain, alleged some people took him away from a hotel in Batkhela Malakand, where he worked, and later left him unconscious in Chargbagh area of Swat.

He said the missing boy was sole bread earner of his family as his father died three years ago in a coal mine incident.

He alleged the boy was given poisonous substances, which deteriorated his health. He urged the police to trace his abductors.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2024