Shangla a ´valley of sorrows´ ...
The spell of heavy rains and floods beginning in the month of July 2010, affected approximately 2 million people in Pakistan. It caused death of thousands of people and many more were injured across the country. Hundreds of dwelling houses, shops, roads, bridges and other infrastructures were completely washed away by floods. This is the biggest natural disaster of history in Pakistan.
Shangla is an unfortunate valley which also severely affected in recent natural disaster. In fact natural resources and beauty is bestowed by God to Shangla valley. Due to its scenic beauty, ever greenery and fragrant air it is piece of paradise on earth. Shangla upgraded to status of district on July 10, 1995 by the then chief minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. On one hand Shangla valley is gifted with natural beauty while on the other hand, Shangla is a backward and tribal society where majority of the people live below the poverty line and are illiterate. Its poverty and backwardness can be well estimated from the fact that Shangla district is on top in ratio of poverty in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa province and on 2nd across the Pakistan.
Due to negligence of government and its elected representatives Shangla lag behind in the run of development. Similarly, the natural disasters and calamities had made this valley miserable. Since long Shangla is confronted with natural disasters and terrorist activities.
Shangla has been affected in 1974 by destructive earthquake and in 2004 by the severe snowfall, mud sliding and fall of avalanches. In October 8, 2005 a powerful and devastating earthquake struck the Shangla caused major destruction and take of lives of thousands peoples. The affects of which still existed in the memories/minds of the people. They have not reconstructed their damaged houses yet. Similarly the valley remained in grip of terrorist activities since 2007. Fear and fright prevailed among the people due to terrorism. Activities and businesses of the people remained suspended due to continuous curfew. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and compelled to leave as IDPs. The current natural disaster and spell of torrential rains and floods hit this valley severely once again. Shangla which was already deprived of basic needs and rights of life, the current devastating damages pushed it back, almost a 100 years. Keeping in view all these calamities Shangla may be named a “valley of sorrows”.
In Shangla 168 people lost their lives and hundreds of people suffered from injuries as a result of such natural disaster. The torrential rains and flash floods destroyed about 110 communication bridges including 9 main bridges and 5 suspension, 500 KM roads including 150 KM main roads and 350 KM link roads, 139 hydro power stations including 4 major stations, 450 water mills, 3233 dwelling houses completely, 4514 dwelling houses partially, 4 Health units. Similarly 51 schools including 27 boy’s primary schools, 21 girls’ primary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 girl’s middle school, 9 high schools and 278 water supply schemes have been damaged. The floodwater and rain also damaged standing crops on 9603 acre area, 1200 acre agricultural land, 25 pedestrian streets, 89 water sources 25 water tanks, 1 oil pump, shops, vehicles, standing trees and timbers. The floods also washed away buffalos, 934 cows, 613 goats/sheeps and 840 animal shelters. In short the floods completely washed away all resources of income of people of Shangla.
The severely affected union councils in Shangla are Pirkhana, Damori, Shahpur, Koozkana, Ranial, Opal, Dheri, Pirabad and Butial. In Shangla major unpleasant incident occurred in village Olandar of Pirkhana Kana, where at least 60 people have been died in land sliding.
The damages of the current floods and rains are much more severe as compared to earthquake of 2005. In 2005 at least it was possible to find the dead body of the person died due to earthquake, while the dead bodies have been washed away by the recent floods. In earthquake of 2005, houses were destroyed but the goods of the houses were present in the remains. The earthquake affected people had a place to sit on the remains or on the surroundings, while the floods have completely drained houses, it’s all goods and even place/plot it’s.
In current disaster if anyone has succeeded to save his life that is only in his dressing. He has ran away bare headed and bare footed. After 2005 earthquake affected people were able to raise tents in fields surroundings of their destroyed houses, but now no field or area is left behind to fix tent to live in. Majority of affected people are laying deprived and helpless only on the mercy of God. In earthquake of 2005, the roads and bridges were safe, while in recent turmoil neither road nor bridge remained safe. The peoples are confronted with trouble to get their livelihoods.
In earthquake of 2005, there was no damage to electric and telecommunication systems, while after current flash floods all these things do not exist. Mostly maize crop is produced in Shangla and if anyone has maize in their homes, but no water mill is existed to tread the maize. On one hand, this natural disaster has damaged the people’s lives, health and wealth; on the other hand it has also damaged them mentally.
The educational institutes affected first by terrorism in the region and now the current natural disaster have once again severely affected the academic activities. The children are really confronted with critical situation and need special measurements.
As Shangla was already in grip of natural disasters such as earthquake of 1974 and 2005, suicide attacks, militancy, military operations, curfews and displacement the current floods proved another severe blow.
The people of Shangla need special attention of government and nongovernmental organisations. In this regard media can play a key role to highlight these problems of people
of Shangla. At the time of such natural disaster, torrential rains and floods I was in UK to study my LLM course. After the calamity in month of August 2010, I visited Pakistan. I witnessed these damages and destructions by my own eyes and observed the whole situation. I’m myself travelled by feet many kilometres in the month of Ramadan. I also observed that peoples are really in very miserable situation.
Sultan-e-Room Advocate
The author is KWN member - 
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