Quake aftermath: Death toll in G-B hits 14

Rs0.6 million handed over to families of each deceased

GILGIT:

At least 14 people have been killed and 92 others injured in landslides triggered across Gilgit–Baltistan by the October 26 earthquake, said G-B Disaster Management Authority Director General Asim Raza on Saturday.

Speaking to the media at Gilgit Press Club, Raza said the quake destroyed 157 houses and partially damaged 406 others across the region.

Raza said the victims included four people killed in Ghizer, three in Diamer, one in Ghanche and five in Gilgit including the victims of a road accident in Kohistan.

The DG said the 92 injured included two each in Hunza and Nagar, 23 in Gilgit, 44 in Diamer, 20 in Ghizer and one in Skardu.

Raza said Ghizer Valley was the worst hit as 80 houses were destroyed there. It was followed by Diamer with 6 houses, while 10 were destroyed in Hunza, four in Nagar and three in Gilgit.

Compensation

Raza said Rs0.6 million was paid to each family that lost a loved one. He added compensation was also paid to the injured as per policy. He said the government was conducting a survey of the whole region to document the losses. As part of its response, Raza said food items, blankets and tents were provided in all districts through the deputy commissioners.

“We authorised deputy commissioners to purchase goods up to Rs0.5m from utility stores and deliver them to affected families.”

Around 550 tents, 500 blankets, the same number of sweaters, 200 packets of cooking oil and 200 carpets were distributed.

A team from the Geological Survey of Pakistan started conducting surveys in Nagar Valley of G-B, Raza said. He added the exercise would also be conducted in Kharmang district to assess losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.