ABBOTTABAD, Feb 15: Despite directives issued by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to the rain-affected areas in Hazara on Monday, the main Abbottabad-Murree road could not be opened for traffic from Nathiagali, while the main Karakoram Highway (KKH) also remained closed at different points due to snow.
In most of the areas, 10 to 12 feet snow is lying on all the main and link roads, which are closed for all kinds of traffic for the past two weeks. Bad weather and land sliding in different areas are hampering the operation to clear snow and people have demanded of the government to move heavy machinery to Galiyat to clear the roads on an emergency basis.
Nazim of Nagri Union Council Sardar Fazlur Rehman, while talking to reporters on Tuesday, said that heavy machinery engaged in development projects in other parts of the country should be moved to Galiyat to clear the roads urgently.
He also asked the NHA officials to speed up shifting of machinery to the site as directed by the prime minister. The people in the entire Galiyat, Thandiyani and other hilly areas are cut off from the rest of the country and facing shortage of food, items of daily use and medicines.
CHEQUES: On Monday, NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on handed over relief cheques amounting to Rs 0.6 million to the heirs of the six deceased of a single family of village Phalkot in Abbottabad district. They lost their lives in land sliding, adds APP.
District Nazim, Abbottabad Ghulam Mustafa Jadoon and Naib Nazim, Barrister Javed Abbasi along with a large number of people were also present on this occasion. The governor also accompanied Prime Minister Aziz during his aerial visit to the different affected areas of Hazara.
Addressing a public gathering at Phalkot, the governor said that the human beings were helpless before the natural calamities. However, he added, they were visiting the areas to join the victims in this hour of grief and they fully shared their miseries. In fact, the governor said, being Muslims we must face such hours of difficulties with patience, tolerance and should not lose courage.
Referring to the steps underway to clear the communication system from glaciers and land slidings, the governor said, all the respective district governments and the departments had already been clearly directed in this connection.
The situation in affected areas, he said, was bad and surely the recent snowfall was much more as compared to the past which had made these areas inaccessible. However, he remarked, both the federal and provincial governments were taking every step to restore traffic in the affected areas and extend relief facilities to the respective people. The governor also assured that their problems would be brought to the notice of the quarters concerned and resolved accordingly.
Meanwhile, talking during a briefing arranged by Frontier Highway Authority about clearing the road network in Galiyat at Abbottabad, the governor directed the authorities to take emergency measures for this purpose.
Both the provincial as well as the district governments should carry out such activities with mutual coordination. In fact, the governor said, to avoid any difficult situation, restoration of communication system was the basic requirement.
The governor was informed on this occasion that the Frontier Highway Authority had fully activated the Abasin Construction Company and had been applying all resources to clear the Abbottabad-Nathiagali-Murree Road.
In this process, it was added, one of their worker had also lost his life whereas a bulldozer had been destroyed. Though, torrential rains and snowfall had affected rehabilitation work, the situation was in control and the entire road would be opened within next few days, the governor was informed.
Earlier, the governor addressing a public gathering as well as government officials at Circuit House at Mansehra, the governor said that he, accompanied by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had an aerial view of affected areas.
He said that every step is underway to restore the communication system and both the federal and provincial governments would provide the required funds for this purpose.
He also advised the district government, revenue department and the representatives of local government to jointly evaluate the losses and submit report so as necessary measures could be taken to help the victims.
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