RAWALPINDI, Nov 28: In a couple of days, army engineers will complete 4,750 shelters in the earthquake-ravaged areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP, bringing the total number of shelters built by them to 23,019. More than 18,000 shelters have been completed so far, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Monday. All of these shelters have been constructed at an altitude of 5,000 to 8,000 feet, it said.

Some 14 battalions of army engineers deployed in earthquake-ravaged areas are working day in and day out to construct shelters for those who lost their homes in the Oct 8 earthquake.

Preference for construction of shelters is being given to those areas above 5,000 feet in height in the villages of Patika, Reali, Tithwal, Lipa, Gari Dupatta, Hatian Balla, Chikar Khas, Chakoti in Azad Kashmir and villages of Shoal Najaf, Mahandri, Kawai, Shogran Jareed, Paras, Dadar, Jabori, Sacha Kalan, Gari Habibullah and surrounding areas of Shinkiari and Allai in NWFP where freezing temperatures have been recorded and snowfall is expected in the next few days.