Relief operation in Chitral continues

Rehabilitation activities are continuing in full swing in the rain and snowfall affected areas of the district Chitral to reduce difficulties of the affected. It may be recalled that 11 persons were killed and 183 injured due to heavy rainfall in different areas of district Chitral from October 8 to 10 while 6,115 buildings and houses were damaged. 5,382 cattle heads were also killed in this calamity.
In line with the directives of the NWFP Chief Minister, the government started relief activities keeping in view the difficulties of the people of Chitral. A committee headed by the NWFP Minister for Information Asif Iqbal Daudzai visited Chitral and assessed the losses.
A compensation of Rs one lakh was paid for each of the 11 deceased persons. Damaged houses were repaired and compensation was also paid for the loss of cattle etc. Electric supply was reinstated to Mastaq, Tarakhu and Malakahu. Similarly, Rs 12 million were provided for reinstatement and repair of the roads of former district council and works department. Rs 6.8 millions were provided for replacement and repair of the poles of electricity and Rs 7.2 million for repair of irrigation channels.
The rehabilitation activities were going on in the district Chitral when heavy snowfall again struck the Broghal valley and badly affected its people and besieged them in houses.
The NWFP government immediately sanctioned a grant of Rs 2.3 million for relief to the affected while the federal govt also provided an equal amount. The federal government provided two helicopters for logistics of relief goods through which distribution of the edibles and other relief goods in Chitral continued till December 30 and 31, 2004.
In this drive the Aga Khan Foundation provided 85-barrel fuel for helicopters carrying relief goods and Chitral Scouts gave 20-barrel fuel for this purpose. Aga Khan Foundation also donated medicines while, Fox, an NGO also donated relief goods.
District Government Chitral and the NWFP Government have thanked the Federal Government, Agha Khan Foundation, Pakistan Army and Chitral Scouts, whose co-operation helped enough to timely provide the goods and to start relief activities in the district.