MANSEHRA: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) is yet to rebuild about 562 buildings which were destroyed in Mansehra in 2005 earthquake.

The summary issued by the district reconstruction unit ahead of the 13th anniversary of Oct 8, 2005 earthquake revealed that Erra could rebuild 2,261 of 2,823 buildings destroyed in the quake.

A total of 1,224 school and college buildings were destroyed some 13 years ago and only 875 of them could be rebuilt as yet. The slow pace of reconstruction process, which according Erra is because of funds shortage, has hit education activities in the earthquake zone in the district.

“Our children have still been getting education in shelters where one can’t sit in extreme weather,” Mohammad Hussain Shah, chairman parent-teacher council of government primary school, Paris Talang, in Kaghan valley told mediapersons.

In health sector, as many as 46 facilities were extensively damaged in the district and 36 of them could be rebuilt so far. The reconstruction of district headquarters hospital, now King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, was completed recently and it is still without surgical equipment.

In environment sector, as many as 194 buildings were destroyed and 110 could be rebuilt and in livelihood sector 223 of the 311 buildings could be reconstructed. In town planning sector, 31 buildings were destroyed and 29 reconstructed so far and in transport sector 84 of 103 affected buildings were rebuilt, while 791 of 795 buildings could be reconstructed as yet in the water and sanitation sector. Several affected buildings in other sectors also await work for reconstruction.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2018