A closed suspension bridge forcing schoolchildren onto a crumbling footbridge in Nakyal, and a flood-damaged road cutting off two valleys in Swat, show how long repair delays leave rural communities stranded.
Kotli, Azad Jammu & Kashmir · Launched August 13, 2026
Live Campaign Impact
The Story
The pedestrian suspension bridge linking Nakyal village to the main Kotli-Nakyal road has been closed since March 2026, after the Communication & Works Department found two support cables frayed. In its place, around 60 schoolchildren and daily wage labourers now cross a much older footbridge downstream that is missing planks in at least four places, and the village council has already logged two minor injuries from people slipping between the gaps. The C&W Department re-inspected the main bridge in May and confirmed repair was needed, but no contractor has been assigned since. Further away in Swat, the Kalam-Bahrain road near Fizagat has been impassable since flash floods on 14 July damaged nearly 200 metres of the carriageway, cutting off Ushu and Matiltan valleys from Mingora and forcing ambulances into an 8-hour detour through Shangla because the Communication & Works Department KP has not deployed machinery to clear the debris.
Get the Communication & Works Department to award the repair contract for the Nakyal suspension bridge and fix the footbridge planks immediately, and to deploy machinery to clear and restore the Kalam-Bahrain road with a public repair timeline.
Verified Facts
The pedestrian suspension bridge connecting Nakyal village to the Kotli-Nakyal road was closed by the Communication & Works Department in March 2026 after two support cables were found frayed.1
Around 60 schoolchildren and daily wage labourers now use an older, narrower footbridge downstream that is missing planks in at least four places, and two minor injuries from slipping between planks have been reported to the village council this year.2
The C&W Department re-inspected the main bridge in May 2026 and confirmed repair was needed, but no contractor has been assigned since.3
The Kalam-Bahrain road near Fizagat has been impassable since flash floods on 14 July 2026 damaged nearly 200 metres of the carriageway, cutting off Ushu and Matiltan valleys from Mingora.4
Ambulances have had to take an 8-hour detour through Shangla to reach patients because the Communication & Works Department KP has not deployed machinery to clear the debris or restore the embankment.5
Evidence & Verification
Campaign Kit
What happened
The suspension bridge to Nakyal village has been closed since March after inspectors found frayed support cables, leaving around 60 schoolchildren and labourers crossing an older footbridge downstream that is missing planks in four places. Separately, the Kalam-Bahrain road near Fizagat has been impassable since flash floods on 14 July washed out nearly 200 metres of carriageway, cutting Ushu and Matiltan valleys off from Mingora.
Why it matters
The Communication & Works Department has already confirmed both problems need fixing — a May inspection reconfirmed the Nakyal bridge needs repair, yet no contractor has been assigned, and no machinery has been sent to clear the Kalam-Bahrain washout. In the meantime, two minor injuries have been logged from people slipping on the temporary footbridge, and ambulances reaching Ushu and Matiltan now take an 8-hour detour through Shangla.
Suggested tags
Submitted Videos
Community
Community Discussion
Government & Authority Response
Communications & Works Department, Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Awaiting response · 12 days
Related Campaigns
TikTok caption
60 schoolchildren cross a footbridge missing planks every day because the real bridge has been closed since March — repair confirmed, contractor still not assigned. Meanwhile a flood-damaged road in Swat has left two valleys cut off for over a month. #FixOurBridges #RoadsNotRhetoric #NakyalBridge
30-second script
HOOK: This is the only way sixty schoolkids in Nakyal can get to class — a footbridge with planks missing in four places. BODY: The real suspension bridge was closed back in March after two support cables were found frayed. In May, the Communication and Works Department inspected it again and confirmed it needs repair. Since then — nothing. No contractor. Meanwhile the village council has already logged two injuries from people slipping through the gaps on the temporary footbridge. It's not just Nakyal. Near Fizagat in Swat, flash floods in July washed out 200 metres of the Kalam-Bahrain road, cutting off Ushu and Matiltan valleys from Mingora. Ambulances now take an 8-hour detour through Shangla because no machinery has been sent to clear it. CTA: Tag the Communication and Works Department. Ask them why confirmed repairs are still waiting. Share this until a contractor shows up.
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Community
Reported by @citizen_11
Submitted Videos
The access road to our village has been washed out for two months — ambulances can't get through. #CrumblingBridgesPK
This is the only road connecting three villages, and it's basically a riverbed now. #CrumblingBridgesPK
This footbridge lost half its planks in the last flood. Kids still cross it to reach school. #CrumblingBridgesPK
Filmed the crack running the full width of this bridge deck. Repair request filed a year ago. #CrumblingBridgesPK
Community Discussion