QUETTA, Nov 1: Mild to moderate aftershocks in Balochistan on Saturday rattled the nerves of the shelterless spending nights in sub-zero temperatures under open skies.

The first tremor, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, struck Ziarat and Quetta in the morning and two aftershocks measuring 4.2 and 3.9 occurred late in the evening.

Although there were no reports of casualties, the aftershocks frightened an already terrified people of Ziarat, who are not ready to go back even to those houses that were left unscathed by Wednesday’s earthquake.

The worst-hit Ahmedon village, comprising 200 houses and a population of 6,000, has yet to receive relief goods. Last week’s earthquake caused massive destruction in the village and many people lost their lives.

“Our families have been spending nights in freezing temperatures for the past four days as we have not received tents and relief goods,” said Akhtar Mohammad, who lost his house in the tremor.

The plight of women and children in affected areas is worsening day by day. Children are suffering because of exposure to the harsh conditions and have contracted pneumonia, dysentery and chest infections. They have also shown vulnerability to diarrhoea and cholera.

Medical experts warned of more deaths if children were not provided immediate aid and shelter.

“We are spending sleepless nights. We cannot survive without shelter, sleeping bags and warm clothes,” another survivor of Ahmedon village said.

He appealed for immediate help for his village which, he said, had been ignored.

Protest: Quake survivors held protest when Rehman Malik, Adviser to the prime minister on Interior, and some federal ministers visited the affected areas of Ziarat. They complained that a large number of people had not yet received relief goods.

Ziarat district Nazim Dilawar Khan, during a meeting with the adviser and federal ministers, said he was not satisfied with the relief operation and accused the PPP-led government of using the earthquake for political gains.The Nazim also criticised the administration for not including him in the relief committee . “Until and unless I am appointed chairman of the committee, I will be not satisfied with the ongoing relief operation,” he told the adviser.

However, on the directive of Mr Malik he was included in the committee.

The adviser, federal minister Mir Hamayun Aziz Kurd, Mian Manzoor Wattoo and PPP Balochistan President Mir Lashkari Khan Raisani assured the Nazim that shelter would be provided to every victim.

DEATH TOLL: The in charge of the relief operation, Brig Mubishar Wasim, told reporters that the death toll rose to 250 on Saturday, adding that 500 people had been injured. He said 700 to 1,000 houses were completely destroyed and around 2,000 partially damaged.“Around 10,000 people have been affected by the quake.”