With the phenomenal rise in the global temperature, Chitral, enveloped by snow-covered peaks of high altitude, has become vulnerable to unpredicted calamities more than ever before. The effects of the global warming were experienced this year in June when the area witnessed a devastation of unprecedented magnitude due to burst of glacial-lake in the picturesque valley of Sonoghur preceded by an avalanche slide in Washich (Torkhow) causing a heavy loss of life and property. Added to that, the off-season snowfall destroyed fruits-laden trees and standing crops, and left the area power-starved for a couple of weeks resulting in an emergency like situation in major parts of the district, with kerosene oil and wax lamps becoming extinct in the local market.

 This time around with the onset of winter, Chitral is once again in the grip of a looming threat from the merciless forces of nature. The heavy snowfall as usual might disrupt the road, electricity and telecommunication network in the area if precautionary measures are not taken well in time. There must be a well-planned strategy in place to be drawn up by the concerned authorities to face any unpredicted situation, if (God forbid) the area is ever confronted with.

Such measures apart, the locals whose households are located in those areas, which are vulnerable to avalanches, should be shifted to relatively safer places during the wintry season; the government and welfare organizations should   make arrangements in this respect .The sufferings and miseries in result of the Washich tragedy could safely be attributed to the lack of required equipment and machinery and delay in the relief and rescue work for the affected, which the government is responsible for.    

 Given the prospects of similar threats looming on the horizon, the NGOs, the concerned government functionaries and political leaders must put in their best efforts to work out strategies so that no more sufferings and emergency like situations may be witnessed in the area in future. Furthermore, the vulnerable dwellers also need to be trained and provided with the required kits to be on their guard if (God forbid) any such unpredicted situation arises. May Allah avert such calamities and be our preserver in trials and tribulations.

Khalid Pervez,

Peshawar