MANSEHRA, Sept 23: Hundreds of people staged a demonstration here on Sunday and blocked the Mansehra-Naran road for over three hours in protest against non-installation of prefabricated houses for earthquake victims in Balakot.

The protesters hailing from Kharian, Bachora, Pori and other adjacent areas of union council Balakot chanted slogans against the local organisation Dino Shail, Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) and federal government.

Addressing the gathering, Mohammad Fareed, Mohammad Arfeen and Haji Munsif regretted that even though the second anniversary of the October 8, 2005, quake was only 15 days away, thousands of quake survivors still do not have any shelter.

They said that Saudi Arabia had donated over 4,000 prefabricated houses for affected families of Balakot and Garlat but the local organisation Dina Shail did not install the shelters.

They said that Dina Shail in its contract with Erra had pledged that it would install about 1,000 shelters prior to September 30 but no house was built.

They alleged that some influential people belonging to other areas of the red zone had received the prefabricated houses meant for them.

Police reached the spot and urged the protesters to remove rocks and burning tyres from the road. They baton-charged some of the protesters.