More rains, snowfall start in Pakistan, Azad Kashmir
Pakistan Times National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: A new series of rains and snowfall has started in Abbottabad, Galiat and Azad Kashmir while met office has forecast that these areas would remain in grip of heavy rains for three more days.

The continuous rains also caused difficulties in relief work in several areas of the province and people have been bound in their houses.

About 14-ft snowfall was recorded in Nathia Gali so far and land, air and telecommunication links of 15 union councils of the Galiat with other parts of the country have been disconnected and intense shortage of food stuff was also hitting the rains and snowfall stricken people.

The road leading to Murree from Abbottabad was also disconnected due to heavy rains.

The Casualties

As many as 431 people were killed in the recent rains and snowfall and the subsequent landslides and avalanches with 260 deaths in NWFP, 111 in Balochistan and 60 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to respective government officials.

While thousands of people were injured in rain-related incidents, mainly in collapse of their houses besides still to be assessed colossal damage to livestock, crops and communication infrastructure.

NWFP

The continuous rains and snowfall in the parts of Frontier province so far claimed over 260 lives while 208 people sustained injuries, said Relief Commissioner Ghulam Farooq while quoting the reports collected from all the districts here on Tuesday.

Briefing the newsmen, Ghulam Farooq said that though the reports about human casualties and property damages caused due to the recent rains and snowfall were not final but in lights of the available information over 206 people were killed and 208 injured. He said that 1946 katcha and 14 paka houses were completely demolished while 3219 katcha and 214 paka houses were partially damaged in different parts of the province.

He said that torrential rains and heavy snowfall wreaked havoc across the province. He said some districts, particularly Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Shangla and Dir were badly affected. Over 342 goats and 159 cows were killed in the rains, he added.

The Relief Commissioner said that the Frontier government for the first time had announced special relief package and distributed cheques of Rs 15 million amongst the victims in the presence of public representatives in the rain-affected areas.

The relief goods that contain 20kg atta bag, 5 kg sugar, pulses, tea, milk powder and ghee for over 1,000 families being sent. The relief goods would be distributed amongst 100 families in Mansehra, 100 families in Batagram, 200 families in Kohistan, 200 families in Upper Swat, 100 families in Shangla, and affected families of Upper and Lower Dir districts.

The relief goods would be air dropped in the Affected areas throuh helicopters, being provided by the federal government for the relief operation. He said that the estimated funds of Rs 30 million were given to the affectees. He said that the final reports about overall casualties and properties damages would be issued within a week. He said that reports from some snow-bound areas like Kalam, Mankial, Naran, and Babusar have yet to be received. He added that Madain-Kalam and Kagha-Naran roads are still closed due to heavy landslides.

Giving details of those killed in during rain-related incidents in various districts of the province, the Relief Commissioner said that 57 people were killed in Swat; 13 in Peshawar; 7 in Charsadda; 11 in Nowshera; 10 in Kohat, one in Karak; six in Hangu, two in Bannu 2; one in Lakki Marwat one in D I Khan; two in Tank; 15 in Abbottabad; 31 in Mansehra; 42 in Kohistan; five in Haripur; seven in Batagram; seven in Shangla; three in Bunir, 14 in Lower Dir; and two in Upper Dir.

Similarly, he said 14 paka houses and 1946 kacha houses were totally collapsed while 214 paka houses and 3219 kacha houses partially damaged across the province during the recent rains and snowfall.

Balochistan

The relief operation in the rain-hit areas of the Balochistan province continues and over 1,500 marooned people have been rescued by the troops while the death toll reaches 111 till Tuesday evening.

Media Consultant to Chief Minister Razik Bugti told newsmen that so far over 111 people have been killed in the rain-related incidents in various parts of the province. He said that 11 persons were killed while three others injured in Killa Abdullah on overnight Tuesday.

Razik Bugti, the government spokesman while qouting the District Coordination Officer Killa Abdullah Hafiz Sher Ali said that five persons of a family were killed when the roof of their mud house collapsed due to heavy snowfall in Toba Achakzai, close to Pak-Afghan border.

He said that three more persons were killed and three injured when a wall collapsed in the same area while three others died due to severe clod.

In another incident two women and a child were killed while one woman injured when a roof fell on a family in Pashtoon Dara on Haji Ghabi Road in the outskirts of Quetta on Tuesday.

The head of Causality Department of Civil Hospital Quetta, Dr. Mohammad Amin Mengal while conforming the death cause said that all the bodies were brought to hospital.

The Crises Management Cell confirmed that relief efforts have been stepped up in the flood-hit areas on Tuesday that raised the expectation of the people as well as of administration to gear up the relief efforts through land route.

The flood- hit districts like Lasbela, Gwader, Awaran, Kechh, partly Punjgoor, partly Khuzdar are still cut of off from the rest of the province due to damages to the roads and bridges. The telephone system and power supply is still disrupted.

Some two thousands people were reported to have marooned in Toba Achakzai area, close to Pak-Afghan border and the relief efforts have been started by the local administration.

Hafiz Sher Ali, DCO Killa Abdullah told that machinery moved to the area to remove the snow from the road to clear it for vehicular traffic. He said that the roads were opened in the area in the evening.

Razik Bugti told that the relief teams of Pakistan Army and Navy rescued over 1500 marooned people on Tuesday.

The relief efforts by Pakistan Army, Navy, Coast Guards and Frontier Corps were continue in the rain-hit areas food, tents, blankets were dropped for the marooned people.

Pakistan Petroleum limited also handed over relief goods containing food and blankets to Pakistan Navy teams for the needy people.

Azad Kashmir

In the recent natural calamities some 60 persons were killed, 20 others injured while 850 were displaced in the recent torrential rains and heavy snowfall in different areas of AJK.

The detail was provided by the AJK Revenue department here Tuesday.

According to the report some 359 houses were totally destroyed while 957 houses were partially damaged. 437 sheep and 56 cattle heads were killed in the recent avalanches and land sliding, the report added.

Due to snowfall and rains the roads from Athmaqam to Keil in the Neelum Valley area and from Hatian to Leepa valley were still blocked however, some 48 tones of flour has been dispatched to these areas.

The district-wise details some 52 people were killed and eight injured while 152 people were displaced as 27 houses were totally destroyed and 10 partially damaged, 150 sheep and 30 cattle heads were killed in district Muzaffarabad, the report added.

One person was killed while another hurt, as 200 persons were displaced besides 136 houses were destroyed and 336 partially damaged in district Poonch moreover 2 sheep and 7 cattle heads were also killed in the area.

In district Bagh four persons were killed, 300 person were shelter- less ,while 136 houses were completely destroyed with 456 partially damaged. Some 221 sheep were also killed in Bagh.

In district Sudhanoti only two persons sustained injuries as now death has been reported. 200 persons were homeless as 16 houses were totally destroyed while 116 houses were partially damaged. 20 sheep were also killed.

In Mirpur district only four persons received injuries and one house was completely destroyed. One person was killed and another was injured in Kotli district , 41 houses were totally destroyed as 44 houses were partially damaged.

41 sheep were also killed in district Kotli, the report added. Some two people were killed while four were wounded as two houses were completely destroyed, two houses were partly damage besides the killing of 14 cattle heads and two sheep in district Bhimber.●