[Picture by Lower Chitral police].
CHITRAL: Hundreds of people, mostly tourists, faced immense trouble due to poor condition of roads worsened by rain during the Eidul Fitr holidays.
Tourists in a large number from different parts of the country entered Chitral during the holidays. Most of them headed to the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur to enjoy the holidays while there was sweltering heat in the urban areas of the country.
However, due to the poor condition of the road from Ayun onward and on Garam Chashma road, the tourists remained stuck for hours.
Their trouble was multiplied by rain that lashed Chitral on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday with interval.
A ChitralToday correspondent reported that families were seen stuck under the open sky on the road to the Kalash valleys and other areas on Wednesday. There was no help coming to reopen the road or facilitate the tourists.
There are flash floods in streams and nullahs triggered by rain in Lower Chitral, including Kalash valleys. @ChitralPolice ask tourists to check weather conditions before coming to the valley and always use 4×4 vehicles. Video by @ChitralPolice pic.twitter.com/fKjqyJ1O69
— Chitral Today (@ChitralToday) May 4, 2022
When contacted, a government official advised tourists to visit Chitral and any other tourist destination after checking weather conditions to avoid any inconvenience.
He said landsliding and floods had affected almost all roads, including the main road to Chitral, Bumburate and Garam Chashma roads, and the government departments concerned were working to reopen them.
On the other hand, Rescue 1122 Lower Chitral said the rain triggered flash flooding in streams and nullahs blocking roads in different parts of the district on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
There was also flash flooding in a nullah at Denin Lasht. According to reports, the flood washed away 29 goats from a house in Shogholek locality of Denin Lasht.
The emergency service said that its staff reopened the roads by removing the debris.
Meanwhile, all hotels in the Kalash valleys were full with tourists who were enjoying the pleasant weather after the wet spell.
According to the provincial government, hotel occupancy rate in Lower Chitral was 70pc and in Upper Chitral 45pc on May 4, 2022.