CHITRAL: The flood-affected people, whose houses were fully or partially damaged, are likely to be exposed to harsh and chilly weather in tents as winter is approaching fast.

Talking to Dawn, Akhtar Ali of Muzhgole village in Mulkhow said that over 70 houses were swept away by the recent flood, forcing its occupants to migrate to the plateau of Kagh Lusht where tent village had been established.

The government is yet to take any decision to construct the 803 extensively damaged and 683 partially damaged houses while the affected people are living in tents which are not fit for living during winter, especially when snow starts falling.

“Even these days the temperature plunges significantly after sundown, requiring making a fire for heating, but it is not possible in the tents,” he said, adding that many children had contracted cold-related illnesses and the situation was aggravating with each passing day.

Govt is yet to take a decision about reconstruction of damaged houses

Mr Ali said that having lost all their belongings to the flash flood the villagers were not in a position to reconstruct their houses without substantial financial help of the government, which was nowhere in sight.

He said that of over 100 affected families of the village not a single one was able to start the construction work of house by their own resources.

In Reshun village about 200 houses have been damaged by floods and the people are living in tents. Sharif Ahmed of the village regretted that the government was indifferent to their plight, as the people would not be able to lit fire in tents.

Regarding the estimated expenses on construction of a house of four rooms with walls made of mud bricks and roof covered by aluminum sheets, Engineer Mohammad Naeem put it at Rs600,000.

He said that it would take at least two months for the completion of a house while time was running out fast because the snowfall usually started from early December every year after which construction work was stopped.

He said that though a Karachi-based NGO had announced to provide aluminum sheets for the construction of damaged houses, very few people could benefit of the offer because every affected family could not afford to carry out the rest of the construction work.

When contacted, an official of the district disaster management authority said that there was no plan for the reconstruction of houses, but the affected families were being compensated. He said that Rs100,000 would be paid for the fully damaged house and Rs50,000 for partially damaged and the cheques had been received from the provincial government for distribution.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2015

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