Daily Times

UPPER DIR: The district administration of Upper Dir and National Highway Authority (NHA) officials have informed that Lowari Tunnel will be closed for all traffic till Friday, Feb 10 as unprecedented amount of snowfall and avalanches on both sides of the tunnel have caused road blockages.

The NHA officials informed the district administrations of Dir Upper and Chitral through a letter issued from its provincial office that the traffic would not be allowed to Chitral via Lowari Tunnel on Wednesday, the alternate day that had been fixed earlier instead of Tuesday, February 7.

In normal situations, Friday and Tuesday are the two scheduled days of the week for public transport through Lowari Tunnel. However, it is not possible to opening the tunnel for traffic due to heavy snowfall received at Lowari Top and both sides of the tunnel. More so avalanches have blocked roads in various areas including Nehergah, Maina and other places in Upper Dir and Baradum in Chitral near the tunnel.

Deputy Commissioner Upper Dir Muhammad Usman Mehsud and focal person of the district administration for Lowari Teunnel, Faheedullah Khan said that they had made all the arrangements for the scheduled day and road leads to Lowari Tunnel had been cleared of snow from Dir side.

However the NHA sources said that a massive avalanche and land slide occurred in Baradum, Chitral, on the main road leading to the tunnel and it will take some time to clear the snow and mud from the avalanche before opening the road for traffic. The NHA officials said that February 10 had been fixed a date for public transport day to Chitral via Lowari Tunnel and Chitrali passengers as well as drivers are advised to come to Lowari Tunnel on that day.

Tehsil councilor: The water and Sanitation Services Company Mardan (WSSCM) has reached into consensus with the tehsil councilor Syed Alam, as a result of the dispute aroused due to the firing by the later on vehicle of the WSSCM.

The function was attended Chief Executive Officer of WSSCM NasirGhafoor Khan, Deputy Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh, Tehsil Nazim Haji Ayub Khan, Deputy NazimMushtaq Khan and District CouncillorNaeem Anwar.

It is worth mentioning here that a few days ago, tehsil councillor Syed Alam has fired upon the solid waste collection vehicle of WSSCM, as a result of which, no casualty occurred, however, the vehicle got damaged. Speaking on the occasion, Tehsil Nazim Muhammad Ayub Khan said that WSSCM is a newly established corporate company, which needs support and facilitation of the public at large.