PAKISTAN: Earthquake relief efforts continue in mountainous Pakistan controlled region of Muzaffarabad, Kashmir

Record ID: 872726

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Earthquake relief efforts continue in mountainous Pakistan controlled region of Muzaffarabad, Kashmir
  • Date: 17th October 2005
  • Summary: BULLDOZER, PEOPLE WALKING PAST A WOUNDED WOMAN BEING CARRIED ON A MAKESHIFT STRETCHER, A WOODEN BED
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VUZ16LMSQBBMEPQ37V88YYE7
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: After heavy rain on Sunday (October 16), helicopters have been able to re-start delivering aid to victims of Pakistan's devastating earthquake on Monday (October 17) as refugees from remote villages made their way in search of food and medical treatment near Muzaffarabad.
    Helicopters loaded with food, medicine and tents took off from Muzaffarabad, flying to villages high in the mountains, some of which are by now covered with snow. Airdrops were organised for villages with no place to land and no access by road following landslides which blocked roads.
    Helicopter pilot Muslim Bakshi has been flying for days to carry aid into the area and take wounded people out. "We went to the highest places today and the situation is better than yesterday and the day before," he said. Another pilot, Major Saheen, says there is still much work to be done. "We dropped some tents and four casualties, amongst them was a little kid. Still there are more casualties on there."
    Once the cargo bay of the helicopter is emptied, duty switches to carrying the wounded to hospitals or makeshift medical centres. Villagers from surrounding towns and villages near Muzaffarabad were transported by helicopter to hospitals in Muzaffarabad. With no place for relatives aboard helicopters, name tags are stuck on heads of wounded people.
    While the aid operation by air is moving ahead, the Pakistan army is trying to re-open roads to the remote areas. But aftershocks and rain are causing fresh landslides which hamper the soldiers' work.
    Outside Muzaffarabad, streams of people made homeless by the quake are using mules on newly created paths just wide enough to allow columns of refugees to pass by each other. Four men were seen carrying a woman wrapped in blankets on a makeshift stretcher. According to a Pakistani army official, they walked at least four kilometres from the nearest town, hoping for medical assistance in Muzaffarabad.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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