Madyan

Madyan

The economy in Madyan, a town in Swat that still holds its tourist charm, had started to pick up as freshly-constructed hotels finally began attracting tourists when the army pushed out Taliban insurgents. Once the operation was declared over, the government had promised to invest in schools and hospitals, and build up security. The army organised the Swat Peace Festival in June to invite foreigners to visit.

But that was before the floods. Now Madyan’s residents fear that the overwhelmed government will have little time or resources to restore the tourism industry once waters recede.

Communication systems have also been affected, a problem aggravated by power shortages, and there is a lack of food and medicines. In a nearby shop that sells generators, a board advertises cell phone recharging: a sign that life in the town is picking some pace.

But multi-storey hotels, the lifeblood of the town’s economy, have vanished and homes, buildings and bridges have been decimated, throwing essential transport into chaos. People have been left to their own devices and men can be seen crossing the river in a pulley, as raging waters flow on.