Altaf Hamid Rao.
Mirpur, (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Due to rising water levels in Mangla Dam, several houses in the villages of Kakra, Potha, and Bansi, located along the dam’s banks, have collapsed as a result of underground structural changes.
To assess the damage, General Manager WAPDA Mangla, Fakhar Jahan, along with his team and officers from the district administration, visited the affected areas. They inspected the damage, met with local residents and victims, and responded to their concerns during a large public gathering.
According to details, GM WAPDA Fakhar Jahan, accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner General Mirpur, Raja Umer Tariq Khan, and other officials, conducted a comprehensive site inspection of the affected villages. Local residents briefed the team about the scale of the losses.
Later, during an extended meeting with a large number of local notables and affected individuals, residents expressed serious concerns over the slow response by WAPDA.
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Col. (R) Muhammad Maroof Khan, informed the officials that 27 houses had collapsed and portions of the village land had broken away, warning that similar incidents could occur in nearby areas, requiring an immediate geological survey.
He stated that luxurious houses worth millions of rupees had been destroyed in Kakra Potha Bansi, leaving many families homeless, yet no immediate relief had been provided by WAPDA. He emphasized that the people of Mirpur had made immense sacrifices for the construction and subsequent raising of Mangla Dam, contributing to Pakistan’s energy and agricultural progress, and that WAPDA should recognize these sacrifices and provide timely assistance to the victims.
He further appreciated Commissioner Mirpur Division for conveying the concerns of the victims to WAPDA officials.
On this occasion, former Chairman District Council Lala Abdul Malik, Chairman Hamza Iqbal, District Councilor Toqeer Najeeb, Councilor Waheed Rasib, Raja Hameed, Raja Mansoor, and Raja Amjad Hameed also shared their views.
WAPDA officials and district administration representatives assured the community that the matter would be addressed on a priority and emergency basis, following which the announced protest was postponed for two weeks. WAPDA officials further assured that no injustice would be done to the victims and that compensation for their losses would be ensured.