ALPURI: The recent heavy rains triggered landslides in different parts of the remote Shangla, disrupting flow of traffic and electricity supply across the district, officials said.
Falling debris from mountains disrupted the flow of traffic at several places. The areas, which were hit by the landslides, included Alpuri, Besham, Puran, Kana, Shahpur, Olender, Ajmeer, Lilonai, Chakesar, Pirkhana, Martung and Dandai,
The National Highway Authority (NHA), Communication and Works Department and district administration deployed machinery to clear debris to open the roads to facilitate the people.Meanwhile, the seasonal streams overflowed due to torrential rains, creating hardships for residents. It was learnt that water inundated low-lying areas, damaging bridges and roads in certain locations.
Rising water levels in local rivers and streams affected micro-hydropower stations, suspending locally generated electricity. Several water channels supplying these units and traditional watermills have been filled with debris, while others have been damaged due to landslides.
In addition, main electricity transmission lines were damaged in multiple locations, disrupting power supply. Restoration work was underway to restore electricity.Landslides were also reported at multiple places in Kohistan along the Karakoram Highway, a key route linking Shangla with other districts, disrupting flow of traffic. Officials said efforts were being taken to reopen affected roads and normalize the situation at the earliest.
Commuters, particularly tourists, were advised to seek prior information about road conditions, especially in Besham, before undertaking travel. The district administration urged the public to avoid unnecessary movement and to contact relevant authorities in case of emergencies.
