August 09, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 13, 1427

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PESHAWAR, Aug 8: MNAs Bakhtiar Maani and Fazl-i-Subhan and NWFP Wildlife and Forests Minister Shah Raz Khan have urged the government to declared Malakand a calamity-hit area after damage to infrastructure and loss of lives in rain and floods.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club here, the legislators belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said dozens of houses had collapsed and crops destroyed in Malakand. They said they had approached the federal government for assistance.

The minister said the provincial government was assessing the damage and it had declared an emergency in all government hospitals besides announcing a huge financial aid.

MNA Maani said at least 350 houses had been damaged in Malakand Agency and loss of millions of rupees had been caused in addition to death of three people.

He said the authorities concerned had failed to open roads blocked by landslides and electricity and water supply.

He said Wartair, Dehri Golagram, Butkhela, Thana and Dargai were the most affected areas where the entire infrastructure had been devastated.

He said work was in progress to rebuild the damaged infrastructure but the affected families had not received any relief announced by the federal or provincial government.

MNA Fazl-i-Subhan from Swat said most of the roads in the area had been washed away by and dozens of tourists were marooned.

He said 12 people lost their lives when a pick-up was hit by lightning in a remote area of the district on Monday night.