QUETTA, Oct 31: As a large number of quake survivors were still waiting for shelter in sub-zero temperatures, the Balochistan government claimed on Friday that with the supply of relief goods improving and relief work accelerating, the situation in affected areas had eased.

Provincial authorities dispatched relief goods, including tents, blankets, warm clothes and foodstuffs to the affected areas. The goods were sent from Islamabad in five C-130 planes.

Police and law-enforcement personnel were deployed on Quetta-Ziarat road to ensure safe arrival of trucks carrying relief goods after some incidents of looting were reported.

According to official sources, rescue work was stopped on Friday after army helicopters completed survey of the affected areas.

“We have searched all areas of Ziarat,” a senior official said, adding that helicopters rescued 10 injured from a Ziarat village.

The death toll rose to over 270 on Friday. However, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani told reporters that it could climb beyond 300 as authorities were moving into other affected areas.

Home Secretary Shaukat Awan said that 155 bodies had been identified.

Police sources said that at least 80 bodies had been interred by local people without informing authorities.

Mr Awan denied media reports that more than 20,000 people had been displaced. He said that over 5,500 people had been affected by the earthquake and about 1,000 houses destroyed in Ziarat.

Thousands of bags containing blankets, warm clothes, sleeping bags, tents and foodstuffs had been sent to the affected areas.

Ziarat district Nazim said the situation had improved with the supply of more relief goods on Friday. “Tents and other relief goods have been distributed in 70 to 80 per cent areas of the district,” he told Dawn, but added that more tents were needed for families still spending the night in the open.

SHAHBAZ: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the quake-hit areas and assured the people that his government would extend all help to them. He handed over a cheque for Rs100 million to the Balochistan chief minister.

Political parties said that hundreds of affected families were still waiting for aid, claiming that workers of political parties and NGOs were helping them.

Chief Minister Raisani rejected the charge and said the government was making all-out efforts to provide relief goods and shelter to families.

“It is wrong to say that the government is doing nothing,” he said, adding that those criticising the government should come forward and join hands in relief work.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said at a press conference that the people of Punjab were with their brothers in their hour of need.

“We cannot bring back those who have died, but we will make all efforts to help the survivors in their rehabilitation,” he said, adding more relief goods from Punjab would be reaching in two days.