Pakistan: Death toll in quake mounts to 24

MANSEHRA, Feb 15: The death toll in Saturday's earthquake has risen to 24 as more deaths have been reported in Kohistan and Bisham districts. In Keehal area of Kohistan, a woman who had gone to fetch water from a nullah was hit by a sliding rock. She died on the spot, while a little girl accompanying her was injured.
A small girl Abida was killed when the roof of her house caved in in Shungra area of Bisham. In Mansehra and Batagram districts, the number of injured people reaches 33. About 103 houses were completely destroyed and 408 partially damaged.

The most affected area is the snow-clad Kaghan Valley where hundreds of people are lying under the open sky in biting cold in village Paras Bela. The Kaghan road from Jaraid onwards is blocked due to heavy snowfall and landslides which are hampering the relief operation. The Frontier Works Organization is busy clearing the road.

In Balakot, 86 houses have been destroyed and 145 partially damaged. Four children have been killed and seven men, seven children and six women have been injured.

In other areas of the Kaghan Valley, five houses were destroyed and 200 partially damaged. A man and a women were injured in the area when the roof of their house caved in.

In Manda Gucha area of Konsh Valley two women were killed when the roof of their house collapsed. In Battal area of Konsh Valley, seven houses were destroyed and 53 damaged.

In Allai tehsil of Batagram district, a woman and her three-year-old son were injured when the roof of their house caved in. In Shamlai area, a 10-year-old boy was injured when the wall of a house collapsed. In Allai area of Batagram, a boy was killed when he was buried under the debris of a wall.

Thirteen passengers of a pickup died when their vehicle was hit by a landslide in the Allai area of Kohistan. Meanwhile, DCO Mansehra Hussain Zada Khan has said that a relief operation has been launched in the affected areas.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that in Balakot and Kaghan areas, district Nazim Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, Balakot tehsil Nazim Syed Junaid Ali Qasim and MPA Syed Mazhar Ali Qasim had started supervising the relief work, including distribution of food.

The DCO said 1,000 blankets and 200 tents had been received from the Peshawar and Islamabad relief centres which were being dispatched to the affected areas.

He said there was no shortage of food or medicines for the quake-hit people. However, people whose houses have been destroyed or damaged needed immediate help.

FRESH TREMORS: Meanwhile, two earthquakes of mild intensity jolted Mansehra and its adjoining areas again on Sunday at 6am and 8:45am and caused panic and fear among people. However, no loss of life or property was reported.

RELIEF OPERATION: Relief work is in progress in the quake-hit areas and the provincial government has announced a sum of Rs100,000 for each deceased and Rs20,000 for every injured, our Peshawar Bureau adds.

A statement issued by the district coordination officer Mansehra on Sunday said two tremors rocked the Hazara region on Saturday, causing major damage to 103 houses, while 408 houses were partially damaged.

The provincial government has appealed to philanthropists and various organizations to help the quake victims in Hazara region. Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has set up an emergency cell, comprising provincial chief secretary, inspector-general of police and relief commissioner, to monitor relief activities.

PRESIDENT, PM'S DIRECTIVE: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali have ordered immediate relief for the quake-affected people in Mansehra and Batagram districts, adds PPI.

They expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and property. They assured the affected people that the government would take all necessary steps to mitigate their sufferings.

Local authorities maintained that search and rescue teams faced tremendous hardships in reaching the remote mountain valleys which were snow-bound and lacked communication links.