Army engineers have completed construction of 44 shelters made of corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets in the quake struck areas to provide proper cover to the survivors from rain, snowfall and severe cold weather.
According to ISPR press release issued here on Friday, work on 36 more shelters was near to completion. The Army Engineers are also engaging locals and providing them requisite know how about building the shelters made of CGI sheets to further speed up the exercise before the weather turns chillier and snowfall starts in the quake hit areas.
The areas where Army Engineers have constructed shelters for quake survivors include Maira, Shanglai and Banna hill in Batagram, Shachan Kalan and Munda Guchha in Shinkiari and Shawal Najaf, Hungrai Sarash, Jabri and Lari in Balakot.
The Engineers Directorate in GHQ is working out design of shelters keeping into account the recommendations of survey group about seismic study, earth texture and strain accumulation reports in the affected areas.
Due to harsh weather, the number of displaced persons in tent villages at Garhi Habibullah, Balakot, Batagram, Battal, Mansehra, Jabba and Shinkiari is continuously increasing and it has now crossed 21,000 figure. More than 4,000 tents have been pitched in 28 tent villages to accommodate the quake survivors.
Meanwhile, Army Engineers constructed 70 meters ramp for Baily Bridge at Hassa area of Balakot whereas work on restoration of water supply schemes in Mochi Pura area is also in progress with full swing.
Bad weather hampered air operation and only 31 sorties were flown from PAF Base Chaklala and Mansehra to various locations of affected areas and dropped 41.533 tons of relief goods. 11 trucks loaded with tents; blankets, quilts, tarpaulins and ration were distributed at Garhi Habibullah, Balakot, Shinkiari and Batgram areas.
As many as 25 more trucks carrying relief goods were dispatched from PAF Base Chaklala and Havelian railway station to the affected areas of the province.