In the wake of devastating floods in Gilgit-Baltistan's (G-B) Ghizer district, the closure of 63 schools, originally ordered until August 25, has been extended as relief and rehabilitation efforts continue.
G-B government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said the schools in Ghizer had been shut due to the destruction caused by floods, adding that the closure may be prolonged further depending on the situation.
He said a relief camp has been established in Talidas, where the disaster management authority has already provided more than 150 tents for the displaced families.
According to the spokesperson, over 300 food packets have been distributed among the flood-affected people in Talidas, along with more than 150 kitchen sets and hygiene kits.
Relief items also include over 150 tarpaulins and shades, more than 150 plastic mats, over 150 water coolers and more than 2,000 bottles of mineral water.
Faraq added that the artificial lake formed in Talidas after the floods is being monitored on a daily basis. Medical teams and ambulances have also been deployed by the provincial government in the affected areas to ensure timely assistance.
Meanwhile, officials said that several areas of the Ghizer district have remained cut off for the past five days as efforts continue to clear the Gilgit-Shandur road.
The majority of Ghizer's areas have remained stranded after five kilometres of the main road were submerged by an artificial lake formed in Raushan village. Nearly 300 houses were damaged by the glacial flood, while homes in Hakis, Thangi and Raushan villages remain underwater and residents struggle without basic necessities.
Similarly, the Karakoram Highway at Hassanabad Hunza has also remained blocked for three weeks after flooding from the Shishper glacier submerged a portion of the road.
The closure has posed severe difficulties for Hassanabad's residents, while dozens of homes, farmlands and public as well as private infrastructure have been damaged.
Mental toll of disaster
A statement issued by the G-B government on Tuesday confirmed that victims of the recent floods, particularly women, children and the elderly, were suffering from mental and psychological stress.
A meeting chaired by Additional Secretary of the Social Welfare Department Arif Tahseen was held with senior officials from government and private institutions in order to address the matter.
The meeting focused on developing a coordinated strategy for mental health and psychological rehabilitation in the affected areas.
Additional Secretary Tahseen said the recent floods have not only caused physical and economic devastation but also left deep emotional and psychological impacts.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ