ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday had an aerial view of the areas worst affected by Saturday’s earthquake. The prime minister ordered restoration of road links with the affected areas on priority and to rush in medical teams and food for those rendered homeless.

He flew along the Karakoram Highway over Abbottabad, Mansehra, Balakot, Batgram, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh with Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Balakot, with a population of over 300,000, seemed to have suffered extensive damage, with over half of the constructed structures turned into debris. Most of its roads were cut off at many places due to heavy landslides.

The prime minister also viewed the villages and scattered settlements, mostly inaccessible due to landslides, which bore the brunt of the earthquake.

The Combined Military Hospitals in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot had suffered extensive damage, forcing the authorities to carry out aerial evacuation of hundreds of injured people to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The prime minister said all agencies were activated and army aviation was carrying out hundreds of sorties for the search and rescue operations.

He said all organizations were actively engaged in providing relief and succour to the affected people.—APP