Kalash village threatened by floods

Report Zahiruddin, Chitral

THE Krakal village of Bumburate valley faces potential danger of flashfloods which will sweep away not only the houses but also obliterate their cultural center, The residents of the valley said. They said the flashfloods after torrential rains two days ago had hit the village which was the center of Kalash cultural activities where there is the grand place of worship of the Kalash people (Jastakhan) situated where the Kalash people from all the three Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur assemble on the occasion of festivals.

They said the upgradation and renovation of the jastakhan by the government is in progress at a cost of Rs4 million. The Kalash people said that other buildings of cultural importance are also present in the settlement which included Bashaleni, a maternity home of the community. They said that the flood has damaged a number of houses on the hillside and by next time it will play havoc with the houses and its inhabitants.

Kalash residents Durdana Bibi and Faizi Khan said that the destruction of the village meant the destruction of the Kalash culture as a whole. They said that due to its cultural importance, the village was chosen three years ago as a venue where former president Pervaiz Musharraf arrived to meet the Kalash community. They demanded that check dams should immediately be erected on emergency basis on the hills above the village to contain the mud sliding during the torrential rains.