YARKHUN, May 8: A temporary pedestrian bridge built to connect the villages of Bang and Meragram No. 2 in Upper Chitral’s Yarkhun valley has also been washed away by the river as water levels surged, completely cutting off the residents of both villages and nearby areas.
The bridge served as the only remaining crossing after a jeepable bridge was destroyed several years ago and is yet to be rebuilt. To further worsen the situation, a chairlift installed over the river has been out of order for a long time, leaving locals without any alternative means of crossing.
The worst-affected are students of Aga Khan Higher Secondary School (AKHSS) Meragram No. 2, many of whom come from Bang and surrounding villages. With no way to cross the river, these female students are now unable to attend school.
Despite repeated appeals by residents, authorities have yet to take any meaningful steps to restore the bridge or at least fix the chairlift. Locals have called upon the authorities for immediate action to reconnect the cut-off communities and ensure students\’ education is not further disrupted.
