193 deaths occurred in Hazara division

The division’s commissioner told the media that 10 people are still missing in the administrative division.

ABBOTABAD: Heavy flooding triggered by monsoon rains have left 193 people dead, the division’s commissioner told the media on Tuesday. 10 people are still missing in the administrative division.

Kohistan stands out as the worst hit district in the Hazara division, commissioner Sahibzada Muhammad Anees said, adding that food delivery has been launched in 13 most affected union councils of the district from Tuesday through World Food Programme.

The food support programme will continue for three months for which Besham has been made a base camp. Speaking about property loss, the commissioner said 6,425 houses and shops had been destroyed and 539 government buildings washed away. He said 90 bridges in the division suffered complete damage, including three major ones on the Karakoram Highway.

He disclosed that barring the main KKH, all the main and link roads have been opened with the tiring efforts of NHA, FWO, Pakistan Army, Communication and Works Department and also by the locals on self-help basis.

Efforts are under way to clear the roads in the Kohistan Valley, he said, adding that bad weather was hampering the initiative. He pointed out that food supply to Kohistan is being lifted from Frontier Force Regiment Centre, Thakra Stadium Mansehra, and is transported to the far-flung areas with the assistance of MNAs, MPAs and elders of the area.

The commissioner said that 30 local lifts which are used as main communication link between different parts of Kohistan will be fixed with iron ropes. He also gave an update on which roads have been cleared so far, saying heavy machinery has been used to accomplish the job. Four helicopters are being used to transport food and airlift stranded people from Hazara division. More than 500 locals and foreigners (including Japanese and Chinese) have been evacuated from Kohistan and other parts of Hazara division.

About suspension of Erra-funded projects in the earthquake-stricken areas, Sahibzada Anees said the authority had exhausted its funds while donors had not provided the pledged cash. As a result, work on the ongoing schemes has been suspended.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2010.