RDs Times
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad
Natural calamities are not new to the people of Giligit-Baltistan; most of whom have By: Shamsuddin Muhammad
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Government managed to arrange helicopter service with the support of Disaster Management Authority under the directions of federal government to shift commuters stranded at Aliabad and Gulmit due pto prolong blockade of Hunza river and Karakorum High Way, the only land route access of Gojal, upper Hunza and central. Government officials claimed that process of rehabilitation of affectees was in final stage and expected to be materialized with in a month which is a good sign in the attitude of bureaucracy with feudal mindset. Sufficient relief goods have been contributed by philanthropist individuals, organizations and government and categorically available in case of emergency. The relief package for Inter Displaced People (IDPs) is effectively organized under the supervision of Deputy and Assistant Commissioner and was renewable on Febraury 17 for a specific period that contains daily essentials and edible items. There are some reports of resentment shown by IDPs over delay in rehabilitation process that emerged due to exaggerated claims of slide hit affectees on their possessions especially that of Sarat village. Helicopters continued to supply essentials on Wednesday in compliance with the pledges of Chief Minister to provide all possible support to all affectees of land slide. Besides re-opening of Pak-Chinese border to facilitate population of Shishkat, Ayeenabad, Gulmit and other cut off far flung valleys of Gojal,upper Hunza government officials are planning to extend boat service to Gulmit for the main bridge that link Shishkat and Gulmit on Hunza River is about
to sink in blocked water.
According to available data, majority of Ayeenabad including twelve houses and lowere areas of Shishkat settlement have been submerged completely. Rising water level on naturally formed lake rose to 170 feet and stretched to about fifteen kilometers long leaving 10 houses submerged in Shishkat village and rest at low altitude have been evacuated. On the other hand, both political and civil administration of Gilgit Baltistan is doing according to its capacity. Officials and workers of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Northern Areas Power and Works Department (PWD) are delivering their best to make breach in gigantic debris surrounded by sheered mountain rocks with anxiety in red zone as the area has had volcanic activity that created visible cracks in rocks. According to an PWD engineer, there is no chance of sudden outburst of lake water for the stony debris is stretched at fifty degree against the prolong blocked water on river. The engineer further says that it will take at least three months to make a breach to release water systematically. Chief Minister Mehdi Shah accompanied with Wazir Baig Speaker of house and other officials has vowed to extend every possible support to the affectees in the critical times saying such disasters are test of endurance of nations adding the disaster has had direct impact on Gilgit Baltistan region too. The presence of public representatives serves to appease feeling of deprivation among the masses emerged following suspension of chopper services due to bad climatic conditions.
Regional government has managed the issue effectively by ensuring boat service as an alternative. We through this medium would like to urge both the political and civil administration to keep in touch with the affectees to address their genuine needs by eliminating communication gulf that emerge at a sudden unexpectedly. We would also request political parties, members of civil society and intelligentsia to come forward and keep their difference aside to join hands in hand to bring the affectees out of troubles. We hope, the nation will be able to come out of menace with better strategy and planning.
The writer is editor of Voice of Hunza, Readers Times, S.R.Times and GB Echo. He can be contacted at: jaashams@gmail.com
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