GILGIT: Relief and rehabilitation operations are underway in the flood-hit areas of Gilgit-Baltistan following recent devastations.
According to government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq, relief camps have been set up for the affected families in Tali Das, while significant progress has been made in restoring clean water, electricity, and communication systems. Work has also begun on the restoration of Ghizer Highway.
He said the only sustainable solution for the displaced residents of Tali Das is establishment of a substitute village, which the provincial government will build in collaboration with the federal government. Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan has directed relevant departments to accelerate rehabilitation work.
Firaq added that the water level in the artificial lake formed in Tali Das is gradually decreasing. However, at Dain, the lack of restoration of the old bridge has left a population of 3,000 people cut off from the main town. Authorities are currently using temporary boats to facilitate movement.
He said clean water supply has been restored for Dain residents, while electricity has been partially restored and further work is in progress. According to Firaq, shepherds who risked their lives to save people during the floods have been sent to Islamabad on the Prime Ministerís directives, where they will be honored. A special ceremony will soon be held at the Chief Ministerís Secretariat to award the shepherds and other volunteers with certificates and shields.
AJK emerges most affected by natural catastrophes in country: SDMA
Meanwhile, Secretary AJK, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and Civil Defense, Chaudhry Muhammad, has said that Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) emerged as one of the most affected areas in natural disasters in the country, where people suffered loss of lives and properties due to cloudburst and other disasters every year.
“This year, fewer losses have been reported due to our better preparation than before,” he said while addressing a capacity-building workshop that concluded here.
He emphasized that the role of all institutions, NGOs and especially the local community was imperative for instantly mitigating the disasters. SDMA, he continued, had always encouraged the local population to carry out the response process better and more timely by deploying better and trained personnel in all districts of Azad Jammu Kashmir.
Fareed said, “Now the time has come that we have to prepare more than before because now every person, every district, every population may be more affected by disasters than before. In such a situation, the interaction between institutions is very important, where everyone needs to work together.”
He thanked all the participants, including the influential institutions, World food Program, Khwaja Zaheer Memorial Foundation, Islamic Relief and University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The SDMA Secretary gave away shields for their services to the sick humanity in hours of trial following the natural disasters and congratulated them for participating in the program.
