Not giving up: PDMA continues relief efforts in Chitral

CHITRAL: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) persisted with relief activities in flood-affected areas of Chitral.

On the directives of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, PDMA utilised all of its resources to support the affected people of Chitral. The PDMA expressed its grief and solidarity with the families and assured the government would support them through this calamity. The district administration feared 29 people died in the floods. Of these, 18 bodies were recovered and efforts were under way to find the rest.

Relief activities had been initiated and necessary food and non-food items were distributed among 50 affected families of Ursoon. PDMA already provided 500 tents, 100 kitchen sets, 1,000 hampers and 1,200 blankets to people in the affected areas.

The irrigation department was handed the task of dismantling artificial damming in the Chitral River. In addition, Rs5 million in relief funds were released to the DC.

Quoting the forecast from the Met department, PDMA Spokesperson Latifur Rehman said more monsoon rains were predicted in Malakand and Hazara divisions.

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorm lashed parts of Chitral. The rain sparked panic and fear among the residents of Ursoon and nearby villages.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.