RAWALPINDI, Dec 22: The relief operation in the quake-hit Northern Areas has gained pace where the army helicopters and vehicles are busy in providing relief goods to the affected people.

In the last two days, 2,490 blankets, 1,500 sweaters, 30 bundles of warm clothes and dozens of cartons containing food items were delivered through military vehicles.

While 439 tents and 70 cartons of medicines were provided to the quake-affected people in the Astore relief camps.

The food items and blankets were also delivered to the people in Shelter, Doyan, Dashkin Harchis, Mashkin and Turbling villages.

Meanwhile, a seismic survey team also visited the earthquake affected area.

The MI-17, army helicopters, employed for the operation have flown over 150 hours to shift the affected people to safer places.

Other helicopters— Puma, Lama and Alouette— have also flown for over 100 hours during the operation, and evacuated more than 800 people to safer places.