Army opens key NWFP roads
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—Pakistan Army Engineers achieved a major breakthrough by opening ten key roads in the quake-hit areas of NWEP on Monday. The opening of roads will give a considerable boost to the rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities being undertaken by Pakistan Army, Civil administration, foreign aid workers and volunteer organizations. Army Engineers are still confronted with monumental challenges of restoring the communication infrastructures as roads are regularly blocked by slides due to frequent aftershocks in the affected areas.
Kaghan Jared road was cleared by Army Engineers 1 kilometer short of Sand town Road Thakot to Banna, Less Allai Valley also cleared. The 86 kilometer long Thakot-Darban road was also cleared for all kinds of traffic. Army Engineers removed slides from road Kaghan-Paras, road Battal-Sacha Kalan, road Nawazabadd Munda Gacha, road Shinkiari-Daddhar-Jabori-Sacha Kalan whereas slides were cleared from seven kilometers out of ten kilometers Balakot-Ganool road.
The number of tent villages set up by Pakistan Army in the affected areas has been increased from 29 to 32 and Corps Commander Lieutenant General Mohammed Hamid Khan has directed to set up another tent village at Mansehra.
Army Aviation Helicopters carried out 105 missions to the remote villages of the affected areas and evacuated 195 patients mostly women and children. The helicopters dropped 76960 kilograms of relief supplies in the small villages of Mansehra, Balakot, Batgram and Shinkiari sectors It may be mentioned that army helicopters have so far undertaken 4E2 missions in the quake affected areas and evacuated 2272 casualties. The helicopters also dropped 8977772 kilograms relief goods. Supply by road to the affected areas also continued and 64 more trucks were dispatched from Army’s main operating base at Mansehra to Khet, Dane, Sangar, Kohalian, Ohanol, Kabbi, Chojyan, Tanla, Bela, Riali, Jigan, Kot Gali, Bagar, Dan, Tangai, Paiiika, Musuch, Goldha Shinkiari Sector Munda, Deoli, Jabori, Shinkiari, Nawazabad, Garhi Habib Ullah, Banl, Sen, Khairabad, Naicka, Pattan, Baghe, Kamol, Old Kamol, Batangi, Gulmaira, Sukhdhr, Kaleesh, Teacheran, Katiglla, Tikri, Chanagh, Sierra. Army dispatched 26 trucks carrying 1042 tents, 9110 Blankets, 5.77 tons ration, 200 generators and 14.08 tons other relief goods from Chaklala to Abbottabad for further distribution among the affectees, Third train carrying 340 tons of relief goods arrived from Karachi to Havelian last night whereas 7 bogies with supplies reached havelian from Multan and Quetta. So far 28451 tons of relief goods and 14078 tents of different sizes have been distributed in the areas. Army Corps of Signal with help of PTCL has established 50 PCO at affected areas. Electricity has also been restored at Balakot, Jabori, Battal and Batgram.
A 200 member medical team from Cuba arrived at Mansehra and will set up hospitals at quake hit areas of Hazara Divisions. It may be mentioned here that 698 doctors are already providing medical assistance to the survivors of the earthquake. These doctors have attended 110287 patients of all kind and operated around 15000.
Military police arrested three persons for stealing relief goods from Balakot Military Police also confiscated the vehicle in the which the accused were carrying Tarpaulin, Blankets and plastic sheets. They were later handed over to civil administration for further investigation.Meanwhile Army helicopters shifted a family who suffered serious burn injuries near Balakot to Army burn center in CMH Kharian on Monday morning.
As per detail a stove caught fire at tent of one Mir Zaman at Baisian Village. Resultantly Mir Zaman received 10% injuries whereas his 11 year old daughter Marya and 7 year old son Saad received 100% injures. The Injured were immediately rushed to UAE medical hospital at Balakot where they were provided first aid. In view of serious injuries, army authorities decided to shift them to CMH Kharian. Aviation helicopters were called at 1:30 am on Monday and entire family was shift to Army Burn Centre Kharian where children said to be in critical condition.