Patients suffer as upper Astore road remains blocked for 10 days

GILGIT: The recent snowfall in the upper areas of Astore district has left many patients in distress as the road connecting the area to the rest of the region remained blocked for over 10 days.

Astore received more than four feet of snow about 10 days ago, making it impossible for locals to navigate through it to reach nearby hospitals while carrying their patients.

Ahmed Ali, a resident of Chilam Astore, told HUM News English that his father had been ill for a long time. Initially, he was admitted to an army medical facility in Astore, and later admitted to Combined Military Hospital in Minimarg for seven days.

“During this period, his condition deteriorated. We appealed to the civil administration and Army for help, but our appeals went unanswered,” he said.

Ali said that, as he received no help from authorities, he appealed to locals for a rescue. They helped him drag his ill father on a mattress for over 20 kilometers through 4 feet of snow, down to where the road was accessible.

“When we appealed to the civil administration to open the road, it took five days to open the road from Gudai village to Khiram area. The dozer was working only two to three days a week. They were not working properly,” he alleged.

He said they had appealed to the Army for snow vehicles, which were not available, as the Army claimed they were malfunctioning. He said another patient was also brought down in the same manner. “They had left Chilam at 8 am today and reached Gilgit at 8 pm,” he added.

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Ali said the road is still blocked from Khiram to Chilam area, around 15 kilometers. He said the closure of the road has also disrupted supply lines, leaving residents of the affected areas without access to essential commodities. He urged the district administration to take immediate action to clear the road and restore connectivity to the upper Astore areas.

In the wake of the emergency situation, Assistant Commissioner Shounter Tanveer Ahmed has directed all health and veterinary staff to remain present at the facilities.

Several attempts were made to contact Deputy Commissioner Astore Muhammad Tariq via phone but he was inaccessible.