July 12, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 11: Personnel of the army engineering corps have reopened the railway tracks between Chaman and Quetta after efforts which lasted seven days. According to an update on relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), most of the road links have been restored in Balochistan by the Frontier Works Organisation and army engineers.

The 58-km Natal-Jhal Magsi Road has been cleared and food has been provided to stranded people.

Major roads linking Karachi and Kalat, Quetta and Chaman and Lakpass, Dalbandin and Taftan have been opened for traffic.

Relief and rescue operations continue in flood-hit areas of Balochistan, Sindh and the NWFP.

Since the start of operations, 400 helicopter sorties have taken place carrying 330,535 kg of relief goods and 414 people and 18 injured people to safe places. At least 94 C-130 sorties have also been operated to flood-affected areas.

In Sibbi, 46.60 tonnes of relief goods and 82 tents have been distributed. In Turbat, 10 tonnes of relief goods and 808 tents have been distributed.

In Shadadkot, 5,175 packets of mixed ration, 3,000 empty jerry cans, 3,000 plastic buckets and ration bags (25 kgs each) and water purification tablets received from the civil sector have also been distributed by the army.

In Kamber/Shadadkot, 717 patients and in Kharan 750 patients were treated by medical camps and mobile teams. In Turbat, 34 medical camps are providing medical services to the flood-affected population.