Despite a marked reduction in the water level in the River Sutlej at Jalalpur Pirwala, a section of the motorway (M5) connecting Sher Shah to Uch Sharif, remained closed for traffic for the 22nd day on Saturday. And to make the matters worse, work on the restoration of the track is yet to begin.

However, traffic has started plying on other roads of Jalalpur Pirwala.  Three weeks ago, M5 had been closed near Jalalpur Pirwala due to the risk posed by floods in the area, a spokesperson for the motorway police had said in a statement. Spokesperson Imran Ahmed was quoted as saying that the M5 had been closed to protect road users from floods and that traffic had been diverted.

“Northbound traffic is being redirected from Uch Sharif, Jhangra and Jalalpur Interchange,” the statement read. “Southbound traffic is being diverted from Shah Shams, Sher Shah and Shujaabad South to alternative routes.” Ahmed added that NHA personnel are placing sandbags and stones to block floodwater. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)