Death toll climbs to 225 in K-P: Ghani

The death toll in Shangla was 50 on Thursday


Our Correspondent October 29, 2015
K-P Spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani during a news conference in the city. PHOTO: ONLINE

PESHAWAR:


At least 225 deaths have been reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, after four more people lost their lives in various parts of the province on Thursday.


This was shared by K-P Spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani during a news conference in the city. Ghani gave details about the relief and rescue operation that is under way in quake-hit areas such as Swat, Shangla, Dir, Chitral, Kohistan, Buner and Malakand.

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“The death toll in Shangla was 50 on Thursday,” he said. “Around 37 people died in Swat. Meanwhile, the number of deaths reported in Chitral, Lower Dir, Torghar, Upper Dir and Upper Kohistan, respectively, are 32, 25, 20, 17 and 11.” However, unofficial figures indicate a higher death toll in several districts.

He added, “Three people each have died in Charsadda, Mardan and Lower Kohistan. Two deaths each have been reported from Nowshera, Swabi, Malakand and Mansehra. One person each has died in Hangu, Abbottabad and Battagram.” Citing the Malakand commissioner, Ghani said 194 people have died in Malakand Division.

Relief work

According to Ghani, hundreds of schools have been damaged in the catastrophe and an MI-17 helicopter is being used in the mountainous areas for relief operation. “Five people  from Chitral have been taken to hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in the helicopter.”

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Ghani said all districts have sufficient funds to deal with an emergency. “The government will release more funds for the affected districts if needed,” he said. He added three medical teams from Punjab were carrying out work in Malakand Division while NGOs are working in Chitral, and other districts.

Compensation package

About the compensation package announced by the prime minister, Ghani said the federal government has contributed Rs1.5 billion in this regard. “The remaining 50% for the package will be provided by the provincial government from its own kitty,” he said.

He added payments for the injured and to the families of the deceased would be completed by October 31 while compensation for the damages would be provided by November 2 and 5. PDMA K-P has also asked the district administrations to submit its demands for funds by Thursday. “The funds will be transferred to all the district administrations by Monday morning,” a PDMA spokesperson said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2015.

 

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