SWAT: Kalam Road has become a torment for tourists due to the lack of timely measures taken by the district administration and related institutions in Swat district, and millions of tourists coming to Swat from all over the country have returned back after facing severe hardship due to mismanagement.”With the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays coming up, tourists from all over the country flocked to the entertainment spots of Swat valley during Eid, but their fun turned sour at that time.”
When it started raining heavily and the dilapidated condition of the Kalam Road became a nightmare for them. On the 36-kilometer road from Bahrain to Kalam, tourists were stranded due to non-construction of connecting bridges and non-rehabilitation of flood-affected roads, as well as landslides and flooding in rivers.
“Tourists spent the night in vehicles and faced severe hardship.”
Despite the forecast of the meteorological department before Eid, the administration, TMA, NHA and other departments did not take timely measures,due to which the joys of Eid became a nightmare for the tourists.
“During the heavy rains, the tourists could not even reach Gabin Jabba due to flooding in the streams and returned back.”
Deputy Commissioner Swat Dr. Qasim Ali Khan said that due to heavy rain and river water flowing on the road, difficulties were faced in the operation. However, he claimed that the Upper Swat Development Authority and the district administration have cleared the debris and restored Kalam Road for traffic.
He advised that the tourists should avoid unnecessary travel due to bad weather so that they do not have to face difficulties during the journey.
“On the other hand, due to the dilapidated condition of the Kalam road, 3 tourists were seriously injured when their car fell into a ditch in the rain. According to the police, the vehicle of tourists coming from Lahore for sightseeing and entertainment met with an accident at Cham Ghari near Bahrain. As a result, driver Abbas, a resident of Rahimabad Swat along with three tourists, Jahangir son of Rafiq resident of Lahore and his two sons Aman and Hassan were seriously injured. The police and rescue personnel carried out relief operations and took out the injured and shifted them to Civil Hospital Madyan after first aid.
Dr. Qasim Ali Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Swat, told this Scribe that during the Eid holidays, a total of two and a half lakh (2.5 Million) tourists visited Swat valley and visited the tourist destinations.
He further said that facility centers were established for the convenience of tourists, added that tourists flocked to Fizagat Park, Marghuzar Valley, Malam Jabba, Miandam valley, Gabin Jabba and Kalam to spend their Eid vacations among other tourist destinations he said.
He said that the arrival of tourists in Swat in large numbers reflects that the people of Swat are hospitable and the administration had taken all possible measures for their convenience.
“Although they faced difficulties due to severe weather and landslides, the administration has taken timely measures to facilitate the travel of tourists. DC Swat said.
