MUZAFFARABAD:
The recent flash floods in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have caused an estimated damage worth Rs4.3 billion to infrastructure and affected 46,489 people in total, killing 64 and injuring 129 of them.
Moreover, landslides are said to have affected 625 kilometres of roads, 15 bridges and other vital road links in the region. Besides, flooding streams also damaged water supply schemes worth Rs50 million, electricity transmission lines worth Rs95 million, nine under-construction mini-hydel power projects worth Rs173 million, human and private property losses worth Rs533 million while the government infrastructure suffered a loss of Rs3.786 billion, according to estimates of the disaster management authority.
On September 7, the AJK prime minister visited the worst affected area of Haveli where 29 people died and over 60 received injuries. The premier distributed Rs500,000 each among relatives of those killed by the deluge.
Pakistan prime minister also visited the flood-hit areas in AJK to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir and distributed compensation cheques among heirs of victims.
In the ten districts of AJK, 2,682 houses were fully damaged and 6,211 partially due to the landslides, heavy downpour and flooding streams in 130 villages.
“More than 1,875 cattle head perished, 245 shops and 2,050 acres of cropped area were badly affected by flash floods in Hattian, Bagh , Kotli and Haveli, “ said State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Secretary Akram Sohail while talking to The Express Tribune.
Most of the roads were damaged due to the collapse of retaining walls. “We had never thought we would see roads constructed by National Highway Authority (NHA) float with rainwater. But when the main portion of the Muzaffarabad-Chakothi road, built by NHA, was washed away near Chanari, we were shocked,” said Ejaz Ahmad Mir, a local businessman.
In Degwar village in Haveli, the sole road linking residents to the outside world was blocked by landslides on September 7.
“Our children, women and ailing people are facing problems reaching the district headquarters of Forward Kahuta. For the last two weeks, students have to walk to reach their colleges and schools through difficult routes. The district administration has done nothing to reopen the road near the Line of Control,” said a resident of Degwar, Arshad Butt.
The SDMA secretary admitted that Degwar road has not been reopened so far, however, he said the Haveli district administration has been strictly directed to open the vital road as soon as possible.
Time to rebuild
Sohail said 100 flood victims are living in a relief camp established in Bagh and the rest of the flood victims have been provided tents by the government and other NGOs in their respective areas.
“Now our priority is to rehabilitate the flood victims and open all roads blocked by the landslides and fallen rocks,” Sohail informed.
The secretary said they have assigned the task of surveying flood-hit areas to sub-divisional magistrates who will visit the damaged sites along with revenue department staff to file compensation reports.
It is necessary to attach photographs of flood victims with the compensation form, along with signatures of assistant commissioners or their deputed staff member to ensure transparency for victims.
Sohail said following the report of local authorities, teams of the World Bank will also visit the areas to ensure transparency while compensating victims.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2014.
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