SWAT: Elders of Kalam valley here have complained that hundreds of the residents of Kalam and its suburbs are short of food items while the distribution of food packages is very slow.

Led by Hazrat Mohammad and Habib Zada, the elders briefed local mediapersons on Saturday about the miseries being faced by the flood-affected people.

They said that after the devastating floods hit the scenic valley the entire Kalam, Utror, Matiltan, Gabral, Palogah, Pishmal, Mankiayl and other areas were cut off from rest of the country. They said the floods not only destroyed hundreds of houses, but also washed away different portions of the road from Bahrain.

“The Bahrain-Kalam road is the lifeline for more than 20,000 people living beyond Bahrain and the floods which hit our area on Aug 25 left us cut off from the area as the lifeline has been damaged in different areas,” they said, adding that almost all the bridges were washed away by the floods.

Demand early restoration of Bahrain-Kalam Road

They said the government and Pakistan Army had announced the relief package, including food items, for the people of Kalam and nearby areas, but the distribution of food items brought in helicopters was slow.

“The ration which is being brought here is stored in different areas of Kalam and is slowly distributed among the people,” the elders claimed, adding the people in compulsion walked to Bahrain village after covering about 30 kilometres to buy food items for their families and bring the same to Kalam on their shoulders.

They said the people of Kalam had started restoration work on the road on self-help basis. “We need not beg for food items, but the government must restore the road as soon as possible,” they said.

The residents demanded the government to rebuild the micro hydro projects so that electricity could be restored in the valley.

However, the district administration said the authorities had been distributing food packages, including flour, sugar, cereals, tea, water and other necessary items, among the people of Kalam and other areas for the last three days.

“We have a proper mechanism as we have collected lists of the residents of every village and hamlet through the local councillors and council secretaries, and after verification we distribute the packages,” said additional assistant commissioner Amir Khan. He said the packages were also being sent through army vehicles to the far-off areas.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2022