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GILGIT, July 5: The recent flood and hill torrents damaged 424 homes in three districts of the Northern Areas. Official sources said that the flood damaged 178 houses in Gilgit, 161 in Ghizer and 85 in Gangche district of the Northern Areas. The sources said that the relief work was underway to rehabilitate the affected people while work would soon be undertaken to repair the damaged roads, water channels and arable lands.
They said that Ghizer-Chitral road had been opened for the traffic and the forthcoming Shandur festival would be held on schedule as the water level in the Gilgit river had started receding.
They said the government had also approved a grant for strengthening shaky embankments and building new dikes along the riverbanks to prevent erosion.
IBRAHIM SANAI: Flood has played havoc in the Northern Areas especially in the Gangche distrct, sweeping away more than 400 houses and affecting 16,000 people, said Legislative Council Member Mohammad Ibrahim Sanai here on Monday.
Talking to newsmen here, he said that a large number of people have been living in the open.
He said that the flood has washed away one million trees and destroyed crops at 14,000 kanals, besides five canals have been destroyed completely that have caused shortage of water.
He demanded that the government should provide shelter to homeless people.
SKARDU: The level of Shoeke river in Gangche district is receding because of the cloudy weather for the last two days at the affected areas of Gwari and Kuru.
Gangche Deputy Commissioner Fida Hussain said on Monday that drinking water was being supplied to the people of Kuru by water tankers while relief camps and medical camps had been set up in both the villages.
Some NGOs are also working to help the people of Gwari and Kuru.
The deputy commissioner said that after complete diversion of water of Sheoke river the administration would start work for the rehabilitation of both the villages. He said so far there was no threat for the people of Khaplu town but people of Stronpi were being advised to be careful.
Meanwhile, Siachen Brigade Commander Brig Nasir Khan Janjua visited the affected villages of Gwari and Kuru and inspected relief operations. He assured the affected people of assistance and help from the federal government.
