Near-collapse bridge risk to lives of thousands in Upper Dir

Author: By Dawood Jan

UPPER DIR: The dilapidated condition of the wooden-jeepable bridge in Charagali area in Upper Dir district has put into danger the lives of thousands of residents of the area whose use the bridge daily in spite of its worse condition.

The residents said that the bridge was a lone source of communication that connected the area with other parts of the district. They said that the bridge had started to break into parts some few months before and they had approached to the district administration, district nazim, elected representatives from the district many times however they had not given any attention toward that issue.

Gohar Rehaman, resident of Charagali, said that thousands of the residents of four villages used the bridge on a daily basis to go to Dir and other areas of the country.

He said that the people had become terrified from the worsening condition of the bridge. However despite existence of the danger they are forced to use the bridge because it was the lonely source with which they had to communicate with other areas of the district.

“We have given many applications and also discussed the matter verbally with the district administration and elected representatives but they did not give a positive response on it”, said Gohar.

Another resident said that the bridge had already started breaking down and it jolted badly whenever a vehicle passed over it. A terrifying sound of “chaq chaq” was also coming out from its broken parts.

Drivers also termed the bridge as a constant danger for them and a threat to their lives as they said that they were using the bridge under compulsion because they had to earn a livelihood for their families which was tied to the profession of driving. They said that they were also feeling fear while crossing the bridge however what could they do, adding that they would not be able of earning a livelihood if they would not drive.

The completion of the new under construction road from Chukiatan to Sheringal can solve the issue because then the people of the Charagali would use that road for traffic however delaying tactics in its completion are making only the residents of Chargali suffer badly as well as the residents of the entire Kohistan valley.