Temporary Bridge between Gilgit Mastuj washed away by flood.
CHITRAL: The only bridge at Mastuj River has been damaged causing for disconnecting land route between Chitral via Mastuj and Northern Areas via Gilgit (Ghazzar). This bridge has been arranged by local administration on temporary basis because an other RCC bridge is under construction at Koona village but still not completed. Some woods have been put on both sides of the river and a bridge has been arranged for vehicular traffic but due to increasing of water level in River the temporary bridge was swift as a result more than 50000 population affected of Mastuj, Laspur, and upper Chitral. Hundred of vehicles including foreign tourists were strained at Mastuj when this bridge was suddenly collapsed in river and was washed away. Besides it the old bridge at Laspur river has been damaged last year but its repair is running very slow and the other RCC bridge at Yarkhun River could not completed timely. This bridge has also constructed on Yarkhun river where new bridge is under construction.
As annual Shundor Festival is also likely to be started from July 7 and will be concluded on 9 but due to no bridge on the river it is fear that thousands of spectators and tourists would be remained from attending Shundur polo festival at Shundor top the most highest polo ground of the world. SHO polie station Mastuj told this scribe that only a small bridge at Aoonsath has been opened but this is only for light traffic and passengers coming from Gilgit are coming by feet across the river who accommodating in next vehicle for Chitral. Social and political circle of the area have appeal to Federal as well as Provincial government for immediately construction of Bridge or arrange for vehicular traffic on the river so as to link tourists and spectators to approach Shundor.
G.H. Farooqi PO box NO 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan Phone No. 03025989602, 0943-302295, 414418
Email: gulhamad@gmail.com, gulhamadfarooqui@yahoo.com
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