Boat service replaces chopper service for communters;

Local volunteers and scouts joins should to shoulder in relief work; FWO and PWD's workers and official busy to remove debris

RDs Report
By: Shamsuddin Muhaammad

HUNZA, Attaaba, Feb.15: Finally, the boat service was replaced by helicopter service to facilitate commuters stranded for more than a week on both ends-at Aliabad and Gulmit valley. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) operated from the day third of calamity and blockade of water on Hunza River and Karakorum High Way (KKH) to shift people from Upper (Gojal) to central Hunza one hand and essentials of life on the other. Taking opportunity of a comfortable service, many indiduals misused the facility by traveling many times without reasons. Consequently, after getting certian proof such tendencies, NDMA imposed strict checking that led to some unpleasant incidents and in response authorities allowed only a single helicopter for airlift operations. Later on, bad climatic conditions caused suspension of helicopter services for more than a week thus strading hundreds of people in Aliabad and GUlmit in a hope to reach their homes, earnestly. NDMA,with the efforts of civil administration and regional government, suceeded to create an alternative in terms of boat service to facilitate shifting of people from both ends. About ten special boats were sought which reached on Sunday's early morning. Local volunteers, boyscouts, members of civil society, NGOs, Northern Areas Public Works Department and Frontier Works Organiztion joined shoulders to shoulders to make the hard task possible. FWO and PWD officials and workers pawed a jeepable road to western end of artificial lake. Such unprecendented examples are hardly seen when people forget themselves and work for the cause of others. The boats were first taken to bank and droped into lake after being assembled. Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah, Wazir Baig speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Home Secretary Usman Yunus, Zafar Waqar Taj, Deputy Commissioner Hunza-Nager, Force Commander and other officials visited the disaster site to innaugurate boat service. Talking to the public Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan said that the negative impact of land slide and water blockade would not only on Hunza but on the whole Gilgit-Baltistan. He placed emphasis on intelligentia and geological experts to share their knowledge to coper the disaster effectively. Wazir Baig, during the occasion claimed that government was doing more than any government in past adding traditional opposition brings nothing but hatred. He called on people to help their brothers to get them out of trouble. He rejected allegations of other parties for being apathetic saying government realizes the problems faced by the affectees of Ayeenabad and Shiskat village and vowed to provide them every possible relief to address their legitimate demands accordint to the situation.