At least 5 tourists have died and 11 others have been critically injured after the balcony of a hotel collapsed in Chitral city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to Rescue 1122 KPK, the injured were airlifted by helicopter of Pakistan Army on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Chitral while the dead bodies were sent to Punjab by road.

The incident took place on the second floor of the Terichmir Hotel in Chitral city where a family of 20 was staying. 17 members of the family went to the balcony to take pictures before leaving for Kalash Valley as part of their tour itinerary.

The affected belonged to Kasur district of the Punjab province who were traveling in KPK after the government opened tourism after it was suspended due to Covid-19.

According to the hotel management, the balcony could not withstand so many people and came down killing 3 tourists on the spot. Two more scummed to injuries the next day while 11 have been told to be critically injured.

A social media video shows people rushing the injured to District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) Chitral. The injured were later shifted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar via a Pak Army Helicopter.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has shown his grief on the incident and directed DC Chitral to facilitate the affected in every possible way.

Broghil valley is home to more than 200 families, located around 260 kilometers from Chitral, the district headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Broghil valley lies at the border area and so is known for its remoteness, and limited accessibility through unpaved, vulnerable roads. Home to green fields, mountains, glaciers, and more than thirty alpine lakes, this valley has great tourism potential.

However, the lack of paved roads; harsh weather; snow for over eight months of the year; and a lack of water and electricity services are a few of the many challenges the valley’s inhabitants and visitors face.

Women and children must travel long distances to fetch water from rivers and streams. Not only does this result in lost time and labor but often the water is unclean, causing waterborne diseases.

“ A few months back, we did not have clean water to use. The women had to fetch it from
rivers in drums and jerry cans. This was done even when there were four to five feet of snow for eight months in winters. Also, the water was unsafe as it was contaminated by both humans and animals”.

Mohammad Aziz, Member Water & Sanitation Committee, Garel,
Broghil

Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), Pakistan, with the mandate to improve human habitat across vulnerable areas, addressed this issue under its Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP).

Women are able to make these products using the time saved no longer having to fetch water from the river. experience and technical expertise, identified safe water sources; tested water quality against WHO standards; constructed water and sanitation infrastructure with community involvement and provided every household a water tap in their home.

With support from Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program (PATRIP) Foundation, local authorities and the community, AKAH completed water supply schemes in nine villages in Broghil, providing more than 200 households with year-round access to clean water at their doorsteps.

These households now have water in washrooms, improved hygiene conditions and a reduced incidence of waterborne disease. Women, in particular, are able to spend more quality time with their families and have more time for income-generating activities such as woolen handicrafts.

By providing safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure, AKAH has helped improve the health and well-being of more than 2,000 people in Broghil.