Hospitals here are in a dire need of blood, lifesaving drugs and disaster management equipment, as persons injured in Balakot, Rawalakot, Bagh, Muzaffarabad and Manshera are arriving in large numbers.
Sources told Business Recorder the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) is receiving patients from worst-hit areas of NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
FGSH information cell informed Business Recorder, so far they have received 167 injured persons from different calamity-hit areas and more seriously injured referred by Manshera and Azad Kashmir hospitals are arriving. Most of the patients admitted to emergency wards belonged to Azad Kashmir and the hospital is facing shortage of lifesaving drugs and needed equipment.
At present, there are 256 blood bags available at the FGSH but more blood and medicines are needed to cater to the need of these patients.
FGSH surgical ward medical officer told Business Recorder most of the patients from Azad Kashmir and Mansehra have received head and bone injuries. He demanded of the government to provide latest disaster management equipment and medicines to hospitals to treat such patients in large numbers. It has received 40 injured persons from F-10 Margalla Tower area.
PTCL, Mobilink and Warid telecommunications have established telephone booths in FGSH to provide free call services to disaster-stricken families. Medical officers told patients with minor injuries have been discharged from the hospital after giving them first aid.
However, citizens of the Islamabad Capital Territory spent their second night in open areas and parks. Most of the shops and markets remained closed on Monday whereas roads and streets wore a deserted look. Wailing ambulances broke the silence of the otherwise bustling city for a moment and sent a wave of terror among citizens.
An eyewitness from AJK said there are at least 4 to 5 dead bodies in each collapsed house and several persons are still under debris.
Moreover, communication links including roads, telephone have been badly disrupted and people are facing immense difficulties in contacting their relatives.