Surveying the damage caused by landslides and high floods in rivers Neelum, Poonch and Jhelum, the prime minister said that he stood with the flood affected people of AJK and would continue his efforts to reach all parts of the country hit by the recent natural calamity to share the grief and sorrow of flood victims.
“It is the duty of the government and state to look after people hit by this calamity. I am also aware of the problems faced by people living on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC),” said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while distributing cheques among flood victims in Rawalakot.
Ensuring AJK residents that his government would make all out efforts to rehabilitate flood affected communities, the prime minister said that he also wanted to help the flood affected people of Indian Kashmir, assuring them that the people of Pakistan stood with them in their hour of need.
Talking about his government’s development efforts, the premier said that he would try to end load-shedding in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) once and for all to bring prosperity and development to the area.
Upon his arrival, the prime minister was given a detailed briefing by AJK Chief Secretary Khyzer Hayat Gondal, who informed the premier that 40 per cent of all road infrastructure, in the flood affected areas of AJK, is under rubble due to heavy landslides.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was accompanied by AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, President Sardar Yaqoob Khan and the opposition leader Raja Farooq Haider Khan.
Gondal, while providing details of heavy losses incurred in the past week, said that 64 people had lost their lives and 109 people had been injured. He informed the prime minister that district Havayli had been the worst hit by the flooding where 23 people had died and dozens had received injuries.
Overall, the chief secretary said that 24,000 people had been displaced while 1,800 residential houses had been completely destroyed. He added that 180 shops were leveled, 10 bridges and 9 mini hydel power projects were also damaged by the flash floods.
The prime minister was informed that the AJK government had mobilised the district administration, Rescue 1122 personnel and army troops for rescue and relief efforts. The chief secretary added that affected families were being provided tents, food and non-food items in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority and NGO’s. He also briefed the premier that power has been restored in all the rain-affected areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2014.
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