KARACHI, Oct 10: Tons of foodstuff, warm clothes, tents, blankets, medicines, shoes and other essential items were rushed to quake-affected areas by three sorties of C-130 and two sorties of Boeing aircraft on Monday.

Moreover, 14 NLC trailers and 15 large private trucks carrying relief goods will be dispatched to the areas on Tuesday.

According to the in-charge of relief work, Brig Tariq Sharif, these relief goods have been collected from five relief centres established by the Headquarters 5-Corps.

One C-130 carries 35,000 pounds of cargo while a Boeing can lift about 70,000 pounds of goods in each trip. The aircraft have been acquired by the army from the air force.

These collection centres have been established at the PAF Museum (Faisal Base), Army Recruitment and Selection Centre (Old Race Course), MP Check Post (Malir) and CSD (Malir). The sixth centre has been set up at the Cantt Public School, Daud Pota Road, to collect exclusively the non-perishable food items.

ISPR spokesman Lt-Col Idrees said that the army rescue and relief teams working in the affected areas had sent messages here that tents, blankets, warm clothes, medicines and non-perishable food items were urgently needed for the affected people.

Temperature in the quake-hit areas has dropped following rainfall and people need tents, warm clothes and blankets to survive the tough weather.

“The people of Karachi have demonstrated a great sense of responsibility and thronged our collection centres with relief goods. We need more relief goods keeping in view the magnitude of the devastation,” the spokesman said.

SINDH POLICE: Some 65 truck-loads of relief goods, including blankets, food items, medicines, quilts and eatables, worth Rs15 million, were dispatched to Islamabad by the Sindh Police on Monday for distribution in the quake-hit areas.