Kandia Tehsil consists of four Union Councils in Pakistan having a population of approximately 40,167. The Kandia tehsil was created as a separate entity upon the splitting-away of the Kandia valley from the Dassu tehsil administration area, 23 km away. Kandia is part of the Swat District, and the Kandi valley merges with the Indus.
The Kandia valley
The Kandia valley road follows the Kandia Nuddi watercourse (21° 19' 60 N, 86° 55' 0 E), 371 km from the capital Islamabad. It abuts Ghizer (Shoundoor) on the North, Kalam on the south, and Tashkand on the east. The valley four Union Councils i.e. UC Thoti, UC kareen,UC Karang and UC Gabral. According to 1998 census the total population of the valley is 47,227. The valley of the Kandia is prone to natural disasters, primarily avalanches and flooding; in August 2011 over 60 people were killed and hundreds of farm livestock swept away by floods. The Kandia valley road was washed away by extensive flooding, making access to the valley extremely difficult; 33 km long road was constructed and carpeted by ERRA amounting to Rs.805 millions. After the flood of July 2010, all the road has totally washed away and the access of the inhabitants were too difficult to the main market (Komila)so many diseases attack the people and died before any health treatments.
Tribes of khandia kohistan.
There are three Major and well known tribes in this valley. 1. Soya Khel 2. Mohlawo Khel. 3. Shadam Khel. These tribes are classified into sub groups like as surjama khels, shabaz khels, Rosa khels,akhar khels, shabaz khels, ulbeka khels, shato khels, including too many other khels. Other than these Gujarat community are also inhabitants of this area. However the most ancient and old tribe of this valley is Suya Khel. Most of the population of Khandia as well as Kohistan is consist of the same family. Other two families are also well known but their population is lesser than the first one .People of this valley have rebellious nature due to illiteracy and unawareness about social norms. A dispute between the above tribes remain active which is called (Kanai) in kohistani Language. Most popular language of the same valley is kohistani which is famous in all three tribes. Owing to low life standard and insufficient facilities the people of the same valley have been migrated to other cities and provinces of Pakistan however their property like as land of cultivation and other shares like as forest reserve in the valley. All these tribes remain independent in era of British government and wali sawat. According to the book Tehreek e Pakistan before invasion of Muhammad bin qasim in 712 kohistani tribes were exist in this area. People of kandia were led by a well known person called (Malak). Malak led all the tribes as a chief. A dispute remained continue among above tribes to sustain his supremacy on one another. In different eras Malaks of above three tribes led the area.
Some popular areas of Kandia
Karang, Kohistan, Berti, Kohistan, Barigo Miankheel, Gabral, Kohistan, Thoti, Kohistan, Aleel, Kohistan, Jashooi, Kohistan and Bagroo Darra, Koistan