CHITRAL: The tents provided by the government to the earthquake-affected people in Charun Oveer village of upper Chitral failed to withstand the first snowfall of the season and collapsed, which prompted the villagers to rise in protest and block the busy Chitral-Booni road on Friday.

Charun village council chairman Abdul Jalil told Dawn that the tents provided by the government proved to be a ‘house of cards’ which started bowing down when the snowfall started and forced the occupants to take refuge elsewhere.

He said that the enraged people came to the main road and blocked it for over six hours.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and also refused to talk to MPA Sardar Hussain when he came there to pacify them.

He said that the villagers were protesting the apathetic attitude of the government towards people of the village where over 80 per cent houses were reduced to rubble by the earthquake.

“They need foodstuff, lanterns for light, medicines in the local dispensary and above all shelters as the tents given to them are unfit to live in during the winter season, while the non-payment of compensation cheques by the district administration is yet another problem,” Mr Jalil said.

The protesters later agreed to listen to the MPA who assured them to solve their problems within a week. Their demands also included repair of the dilapidated road leading to the village.

The councillor said that the tents provided by different NGOs were found to be far better than that of the government, as they were less affected when the area received about 10 inches snow.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2015

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