MANSEHRA: The Torghar district administration on Tuesday began clearing the Darband-Thakot Road of the landslides triggered by recent rains.

“We have started clearing the road, which connects Mansehra with Battagram through Torghar district,” Kundar Hassanzai Additional Assistant Commissioner Jamil Hussain Shah told reporters.

He said that heavy machinery had been deployed along the Indus River to clear the road, as residents had been facing difficulties due to its closure.

“I am personally overseeing the road-clearing and widening operation. I have directed officials of the Communication and Works Department to ensure the early reopening of the road so that inter-district travel can resume,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Upper Kohistan district on Tuesday blocked the Karakoram Highway for over two hours on the second consecutive day, demanding restoration of power supply to their areas.

“Power generators installed on streams and the Indus River to supply electricity to our households were either washed away by floods or removed by Wapda, rendering us without power for the last several months,” a protester said.

The protesters vowed to continue the partial road blockade to press Wapda to restore power supply to their areas. They also raised slogans against the authority.

“The Dasu hydropower project, one of the country’s major energy projects, is being constructed on our lands, yet we are without electricity,” another protester deplored. According to the protesters, the government had announced that electricity would be provided to them through a local grid station in Dasu, but to no avail.

“Our protest will continue until our demands are met,” a protester vowed.

RALLY: The Torghar administration organised a rally on Tuesday to sensitise people to the dangers of wildfires, which are causing extensive damage to forests and wildlife.

“The incidents of wildfires increase significantly during the summer season across the Hazara Division. People should remain cautious and avoid lighting fires, throwing cigarettes and inflammable materials in forests,” Safdar Azam Qureshi, Torghar Additional Deputy Commissioner, told participants of the rally.

The rally, which started from the central offices, culminated at the same point after marching through various roads. The participants carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans also distributed pamphlets to residents. Fazlur Rehman, Judbah assistant commissioner, also addressed the rally and said that the government was utilising all available resources to contain wildfires across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Wildfires pose a serious threat to biodiversity. During such blazes, wildlife also suffers heavily, which is a great loss,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026