ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (APP): Pakistan Monday made a fresh appeal for more tents and blankets while seeking fully equipped medical trauma teams to treat over 65,000 badly injured people still arriving from the quake affected areas. Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan, the recently appointed Federal Relief Commissioner said medical and trauma teams with orthopaedic surgeons, volunteer doctors and para medical staff along with, X-rays, CT Scan and other related equipment were urgently required.
He said the government has identified all areas affected by the 7.6 intensity earthquake on Oct 8, however he said it was difficult to say when relief could reach all the inaccessible areas. Briefing the newsmen about the relief operations the Federal Relief Commissioner said the death toll may be revised from that of 39,422 as more bodies were being pulled out from the rubble. About the figure of 53,000 deaths as stated by the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said the figures were estimates adding "we do not contest anyone's words."
When asked about a figure for the missing, he said it would be a "heart-wrenching decision" as the tragedy was far greater than the tsunami. He said around 100,000 people have been affected in the Jhelum valley road, while 30,000 in the lower Neelum valley. About the restoration of roads blocked by several landslides in Azad Kashmir, he said both the Neelum and Jhelum valley roads would require "concerted" efforts of around four weeks to fully operationalise. However, he added, mules, air drops by C-130s and helicopters were continuing in the affected areas. Major General Farooq said engineering teams along with heavy equipment from friendly countries were arriving in the country. These would be utilised to fully restore the Neelum valley road.