Boat Service may prove vulnerable if boats were not repaired,life jackets substandared;

leakage of freezing water and blowing of downstream icy winds added troubles for travelers, female and children still awaiting for arrangements, FWO, NAPWD, FOCUS, Civil and Political administration and local volunteers doing their most to release blocked water

VoH Report

HUNZA, Attaabad, Feb. 17: The boat service that was inaugurated by Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan and Wazir Baig, Speaker GBLA along home secretary on Sunday is proving troublesome for travelers. According to details, the boat service started its operations recently has added troubles for the travelers due to leakage of water into substandard boats and life jackets being used as prevention measures. On the other hand, blowing downstream icy winds have added to the difficulties of the travelers. Children and Females stranded on both sides of blocked water are still waiting for arrangements to reach their destinations. Regional government and Civil administrtion of Gilgit Baltistan has sought boats with the help of NDMA to facilitate commuters to replace chopper service that already suspended due to bad climatic conditions. According to a FOCUS official, who on the conditions of anonymity said, the boats may prove vulnerable due to little relevance to the ecological circumstances adding special boats are required that could bear winds and have least possibility of overturning into water while traveling.

Frontier Work Organization (FWO), Northern Areas Power and Works Department (NAPWD), Focus Humanitarian Organization, Civil and political administration and local volunteer organizations are doing their most to release blocked water and to clear Karakorum High Way, with the available machinery, simultaneously. Nevertheless, little arrangements are made for officials and workers working on the side as disaster prevention measures for the sheered rocks on both sides can bring devastation.