Normalcy begins to return at Allai

ALLAI—Life is slowly returning to normal in Allai, where worst ever earthquake in the history of Pakistan killed at least 2000 persons and rendered hundreds and thousands homeless.
Those who had fled after their houses were damaged in the quake have started coming back. Several shops have also come up despite the fact that several adjoining areas of Allai have not yet received relief goods.
In Bana Bazar, one of the worst affected markets of the area, residents said that they were recovering from the shock and piecing together their lives.
At most places, residents are seen digging for their belongings in the debris of their collapsed houses.
Behram Khan, a resident, said that the situation was returning to normal. “Slowly, we are coping up. But there is no option but to live in tents as our houses collapsed but we have to live,” he said.
Incharge Health Centre, Dr. Sar Buland said that the people were suffering from fever due to the harsh weather. He said that about 500 people daily come over here at the field hospital.
He said that the relief team arrived here after five days of earthquake. He said that health care center was also damaged resulting in several people helpless.
Another villager told this reporter that local markets were returning with activity. “Earlier for a week or two people were not coming and there was nobody to be seen,” he said.
He said that shopkeepers have start selling things and people are turning to buy things.
He said that the more affected people were living up above the mountains and they were not willing to come here at the tent villages.
State officials said that the rescue operations were hampered due to the lack of local civil administration, as they were also victim of the earthquake. He said that the Civil Magistrate and Tehsil Nazim’s office had also been damaged and the officials were busy to rescue their near and dear ones.
He said that after the rescue operation the main target of the government was to reconstruct infrastructure and helping restore the confidence of people.—Online