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Rescue, Relief & Rehabilitation Measures in flood effected areas
of Chitral District
My grand father once told me that about 150 years ago Chitral was
an attractive and very charming princely State with rich natural
resources which include clean and crystal water, magnificent
mountains covered with Dyar, juniper, Pine and holy oak trees that
dazzled the eyes of the viewers. The dense and thick forests in
which it was easy to get lost were the habitation of wild animals.
The migratory birds which traveled using Chitral rout from Central
Asian Countries stopped in these forests augmenting the beauty of
the area. The lucid milky water coming down from the melting snow
of the splendid mountains through narrow brooks with flowers of
different kinds growing along both sides appeared to Colonel
William Lockhart, one of the first Europeans to explore this region
as a mass of frosted silver. Sangin Ali the great grand father of
the ruling family of Chitral was when asked by Shah Jahan the
Moghol emperor to stay in Kashmir rather to go back to Chitral, he
abruptly answered that he would never prefer Kashmir upon Anjigan
with its valleys full of different kinds of flowers which remained
blossomed through out the year. Its magnificent mountains covered
with thick forests, its natural resources, its minerals, its unique
culture, its history and its geography opened opportunities to the
explorers and researchers to know about this tract of land and
verify facts. All these were the results of hard work, patriotism
and interests of our former ruling families. The forests were
conserved properly, no one was allowed to cut the forest trees
without proper permission from the king, no one was allowed to hunt
ibex, deer and wild animals and no one was allowed to graze their
animals in the forests or live along with the flock of animals in
the huts which were built for hunting purpose of the monarch only.
Resultantly, the lives, properties, houses, gardens and animals of
the people remained safe from natural disasters and from other
calamities. The sovereign who took these measures was allegedly
called as tyrant, pitiless, harsh and cruel. Revolutionary movement
was initiated against them publicly. Their good achievements were
buried and ridiculously stigmatized and the measure through which
our forests and pastures were conserved and protected was
considered harsh action against general public from the crown.
Since 1969 when Chitral was merged with Govt of NWFP now Khyber
PakhtunKhwa, the responsibility of conservation of our forest
resources was vested to Forest Department which was established for
the purpose with strict laws and rules and regulation.
Unfortunately, these laws were not utilized against the criminals,
timber mafia and against those who surreptitiously transport
timbers and fire wood to the local saw machines and fire wood stock
centers for black marketing in order to earn money. Neither the
local govt nor the concerned department ever succeeded to take
concrete measures against the local population in particular the
Gujur tribe who keep thousands of animals and graze them on the
mountains. Consequently, our pastures and mountains became nude and
naked from vegetation causing devastating flood and soil erosion.
Recently, heavy flood washed away Uchusht, Mustajapandeh and
Khorkashandeh the most beautiful settlements of Chitral having
fertile lands with standing wheat crops, gardens and animals
besides death of 12 individuals which include school going children
and women. These damages would never be compensated. It is also a
great loss to the nation. The whole story of the incident could not
be written elaborately. In the evening when unfortunate families
were taking dinner along with their innocent children, aged mothers
and ailing fathers, a monstrous and terrifying flood suddenly
invaded on them. The babies and adolescents with their parents
immured themselves under the debris and scattered wreckage of their
own houses where they were borne with ever lasting hopes. The flood
stem down from the place which was bared from trees, greenery and
bushes of all kinds. Twelve individuals including male, female and
children interred under the crumbling houses with 60 animals and
standing crops on over 120 jiribs.
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation operation taken by the Distrcit
Govt was strange and very poor. Only one tractor which was hired
working with its weak blade on road at Mustajapandeh. It could not
open the road till the evening. From both Shiaqotek and Jang Bazar
sides the roads were blocked. The rescue team from Chitral Scouts
and Students from Govt High School Chitral and the local people
reached the side on foot. There were no equipment and machinery
there. No dozer and excavator were brought there. Local people
gathered in large number used local tools and their hands in
removing debris of crumbled houses. Eventually, after a long
endeavor they excreted dead bodies of 7 individuals from the debris
and buried them in their ancestral graveyards. 5 individuals are
still missing. Those who were rescued became homeless for ever. If
our District Govt had taken timely action and concrete rescue
operation was started, certainly many individuals were saved before
death.
It was a minor nature catastrophe from which our people are not
recovered. We afraid how our weak District Govt will take measure
if a big nature disaster take place in the remotest areas of
Chitral District. As Chitral is already located in seismic zone and
there is consecutive danger of a major earth quake any time in any
place. There are no alternative roads like other districts of
Pakistan to be used in time of emergency when the main road blocks.
In such situation what comprehensive strategy does our Distrct Govt
formulate? Our District Govt has already been facing shortage of
resources. Our political leadership should also think about this
problem. Prior measures to open the roads in emergency and start in
time relief operation in the effected areas are essential. For the
purpose dozers and excavators are required to be kept with full
tank of fuel and staff in various points. Our political leadership
should coordinate with our District Govt and arrange finance to
procure necessary machinery to be used during emergency in the
far-flung areas of Chitral District.
Maham Saleem
Chitral
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