To provide cover to maximum quake victims be the snowfall and severe cold weather, Pakistan army engineers with the help of NGOs has stepped up construction of shelters for survivors in the quake affected areas of NWFP.
According to an ISPR press release issued here on Thursday, three different types of shelters are being constructed in areas of high altitude.
These include shelters made from pre-fabricated material fiber glass and Corrugated Galvanised Iron (CGI) sheets.
Plywood and thermo poles are being installed to keep temperature normal inside shelter in extreme cold weather. Engineers are providing training to volunteers and locals regarding the construction of shelters.
Pakistan army has made arrangements for transportation' of ready made fiber glass shelters Five Engineers Battalions are presently busy in construction work have so far constructed 2,049 shelters at various locations in Batgram, Balakot Shinkiari and Garhi Habibullah while construction work on 2,521 more shelters is near to completion.
Army engineers has up till now received 10,112 CGI sheets from Engineers Directorate in GHQ while 16,282 sheets have been donated by the non governmental organisations.
Army engineers removed 120 trucks of rubble from tehsil headquarters building and a market in Balakot city. Some 20 damaged shops were also demolished in the city.
Meanwhile, doctors of Army Medical Corps (AMC) are providing medical assistance round the clock. A 240-member contingent of US is also extending healthcare facilities to the victims at Shinkiari.
Pakistan Army Aviations helicopters flew 71 sorties from main operational base Mansehra to various locations in quake-hit areas dropping 3.9 tons of relief goods including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, quilts, rations and medicines.
Eight sorties were flown from PAF base Chaklala to the affected areas of NWFP and airlifted 8.442 tons of supplies in the affected areas. United Nations MI-26 and MI-8 helicopters also carried out 16 sorties carrying 34 tons of rations, 8 tons of blankets and 4.3 tons of mattresses and kitchen items to Jared, Rashang and Tanoor Bala.
As many as 71 trucks, loaded with 8,563 tents, blankets and quilts, 26,554 tons of ration and six tarpaulins were dispatched to Chatter Plain, Garhi Habibullah, Balakot, Shinkiari, Batgram, Darband and other areas. Army rescue parties delivered 52,685 kilograms of relief goods, 550 tents and 1,997 blankets.