Balakot
| Balakot بالاکوٹ | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Balakot | |
| Coordinates: 34°32′N 73°21′E / 34.54°N 73.35°E | |
| Country |
 Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of towns | 1 |
| Number of Union Councils | 1 |
Balakot (Urdu: بالاکوٹ ) is a town in Mansehra District in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The town was destroyed during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, but was later rebuilt with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan and Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV),[1] a Saudi relief organisation.
History
In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs invaded and occupied Mandi Bahauddin District. Bhangi Misl was the first of many Sikh bands to invade and plunder the Mughal Lahore and other cities in Punjab. Many visitors to Lahore during this era noted that much of the city was in disrepair and many of its Muslim monuments and Mosques were pillaged and desecrated by the Sikhs. The land, palaces and houses of Muslim nobility were confiscated by the Sikhs Sardars. Marbles and precious stones were pillaged from Muslim buildings, including Shalimar Gardens, and homes by the Sikhs to build Golden Temple in Amritsar and the other Sikh holy places. Syed Ahmad Barelvi a Muslim nationalist received desperate pleas of help from the persecuted Muslims of the Punjab region. The Muslims were prohibited to call Azan and lands belonging to the waqf endowments which provided financial support to Muslim institutions were confiscated by the Sikhs. Syed Ahmad Barelvi in 1821 with many supporters and spent two years organizing popular and material support for his Punjab campaign. He carefully developed a network of people through the length and breadth of India to collect funds and encourage volunteers, traveling widely throughout India attracting a following among pious Muslims. In December 1826 Sayyid Ahmad and his followers clashed with Sikh troops at Akora but with no decisive result. In a major battle near the town of Balakot in 1831, Sayyid Ahmad and Shah Ismail Shaheed with volunteer Muslims were defeated and martyred by the professional Sikh Army. The Muslims faced severe restrictions during the Sikh rule.
Climate
Balakot has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall in Balakot is much higher than in most other parts of Pakistan. The heaviest rainfall occurs either in late winter (February–March) associated with frontal systems, or in the monsoon season (June–August); however, all months see significant rainfall on average.
| Climate data for Balakot | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) |
25.2 (77.4) |
31.1 (88) |
36.0 (96.8) |
43.3 (109.9) |
42.1 (107.8) |
41.2 (106.2) |
39.7 (103.5) |
35.2 (95.4) |
33.9 (93) |
29.0 (84.2) |
24.7 (76.5) |
43.3 (109.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 13.9 (57) |
15.2 (59.4) |
19.3 (66.7) |
25.9 (78.6) |
31.3 (88.3) |
35.5 (95.9) |
32.3 (90.1) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.0 (87.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
22.2 (72) |
15.9 (60.6) |
25.09 (77.16) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
9.5 (49.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
19.3 (66.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
28.1 (82.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.9 (78.6) |
24.0 (75.2) |
19.3 (66.7) |
14.2 (57.6) |
9.5 (49.1) |
18.54 (65.37) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.2 (36) |
3.8 (38.8) |
7.6 (45.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.4 (63.3) |
20.7 (69.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
20.6 (69.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
11.3 (52.3) |
6.1 (43) |
3.1 (37.6) |
11.98 (53.58) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −3 (27) |
−2.2 (28) |
−1 (30) |
3.9 (39) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.0 (50) |
15.0 (59) |
13.3 (55.9) |
10.0 (50) |
5.2 (41.4) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−3 (27) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 105.4 (4.15) |
156.1 (6.146) |
195.9 (7.713) |
122.5 (4.823) |
80.5 (3.169) |
107.3 (4.224) |
384.3 (15.13) |
311.4 (12.26) |
100.8 (3.969) |
48.9 (1.925) |
44.0 (1.732) |
87.5 (3.445) |
1,744.6 (68.686) |
| Source: NOAA (1971-1990) [2] | |||||||||||||
Administration
Balakot is one of the main cities of Mansehra District. It serves as the chief city of Balakot Tehsil, which is the largest Tehsil of Mansehra District. It has also a Union Council and administers the many surrounding smaller towns and villages.[3]
History
The town or village of Balakot is occupied mainly by Khankhel Swati family, Gujjar, Awan, Swati, Syed, Turk, Mughal and Hanki tribes. It is located on the banks of the River Kunhar before it enters the Kashmir Valley. The Sikhs tried to free Mansehra in the 1818 but were met with resistance from the occupying army. As the Mansehra region fell under Sikh control, it was annexed to Punjab. The movement placed Waziristan, the Mohmand country beyond Kunhar, Chitral and Yusufzai tribes within the control and responsibility of the Indian government. Syed Ahmad Barelvi and Shah Ismail Shaheed, with the help of the Mujahadeen, including the local tribes of tehsil Balakot from Kaghan to Garhi Habibullah led many revolts and attacks against the Sikhs. At last on 6 May 1831, during a fierce battle, Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed along with hundreds of their followers were killed.[4] The central mosque of Balakot is named after Syed Ahmed Barelvi. The areas includes diverse groups, especially Pashtuns and Hindko speakers.
Earthquake 2005
The town was completely destroyed in the massive earthquake on 8 October 2005. The fault line almost passes through the main bazar of Balakot. It follows the hilly area to the north up to Allai and leads to the Bagh in Azad Jammu & Kashmir from the villages of Balakot like Kanshian and Jabri Kaleesh. The United Arab Emirates has volunteered to rebuild this town into an improved one with housing colonies, schools, hospitals, and other civic facilities. However the Pakistan government has announced that the city will be relocated.[5] The town will be reconstructed about 20 km away at a safer spot with more earthquake-proof buildings. The hillside town of Balakot, comprising 12 union councils with a population of 30,000 people, was completely destroyed by the earthquake on 8 October 2005. Over 90 per cent of the houses were reduced to muddy smears. The survivors will be relocated to the New Balakot City, currently being developed near Mansehra. [
References
- ↑ Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims
- ↑ "Balakot Climate Normals 1971-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ↑ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Mansehra
- ↑ Ambela – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 289.
- ↑ Over 80% of the building collapsed and several schools where most of the students were buried alive.BBC NEWS – Pakistan to move quake-hit town
http://tribune.com.pk/story/269962/2005-earthquake-balakot-remembers-its-dead-amid-tears-and-sobs/
