DERA GHAZI KHAN City News

Portion of highway damaged by hill torrent not repaired yet
From Hasnain Qaisrani
DERA GHAZI KHAN: The National Highway Authority (NHA) failed to restore the inter-provincial Indus Highway after a small portion was swept away by the flash flood some ten days ago.
From transporters and passengers to local community everyone is facing great inconvenience in this scenario. The failure is more self-evident given that there have been no rains on the vast Suleman Ranges for the last couple of days but the NHA seemingly does not realise the importance of this route linking Peshawar with Karachi via Dera Ghazi Khan.
The same portion of the highway was rehabilitated after being damaged at the this point during the devastating floods in 2010 but the latest episode has also exposed its poor quality.
The local community familiar with the nature of the hill torrents believe that Khad Buzdar bridge has the potential to drain the floodwater but the consultants and contractors had just filled that swept away portion rather than taking permanent measures that would have averted the situation created again at the same spot.
It is important to note that the bridge remained intact but a small portion of the road close to it over was swept away by Koura hill torrent.
An official said the repair and rehabilitation work had been started which would be completed soon. He said the process took time as the water accumulated at the location was pumped before launching the work.