MANSEHRA, Oct 2: The people of Balakot have said that they will not allow ministers to attend the seventh anniversary of October 8, 2005 earthquake as survivors of the catastrophe are still living in miserable conditions.

The earthquake survivors belonging to Balakot and Garlat during a meeting on Tuesday said that they were still suffering from the brunt of tragedy even after seven years.

The meeting was addressed by Mian Ziaur Rehman, Khursheed Akhtar Khan, Mian Ashraf and Mohammad Munsaf.

“The ministers and advisers of both federal and provincial governments are not sincere in addressing our miseries. Now we warn them not to enter Balakot on October 8, otherwise they will be thrown out of the area,” said Mr Rehman.

The speakers said that government stopped providing civic services to them after declaring Balakot and Garlat as red zone.

“We are even without drinking water and health facilities. The ministers and advisers are making tall claims about their so-called services for the people of Balakot,” they said.

The speakers alleged that people of Balakot were still awaiting allotment of plots at New Balakot City as the project was in doldrums owing to apathy of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority and other departments concerned.

“Seven years had passed since the tragedy but work on building infrastructure could not be competed at New Balakot City,” said Mr Munsaf.

The meeting decided that protest demonstration would be organised on October 8 to mark the seventh anniversary of the earthquake and nobody would be allowed to hold separate events in Balakot on that day.

The participants of the meeting said that Erra failed to address their miseries and allot plots to them at New Balakot City. They said that they would move Supreme Court for getting justice and taking to task those people, who were responsible for the delay.

FIRE: Two people were injured and three shops gutted when fire broke out at a market in Balakot on Tuesday.

The fire, which erupted after a cylinder blast in a shop, engulfed the nearby shops. As a result, the owner of the shop, Waqas, and a customer Mohammad Imran sustained burn injuries.

Local people rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire. Besides the gas cylinders shop, a general store and a shoe shop were also burnt.

The injured were taken to Civil Hospital in Balakot from where they were referred to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital after emergency treatment.