PAKISTAN: Engineers in Pakistan work around the clock to clear roads of massive landslides hampering relief efforts in quake-hit areas in northern Pakistan

Record ID: 872832

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Engineers in Pakistan work around the clock to clear roads of massive landslides hampering relief efforts in quake-hit areas in northern Pakistan
  • Date: 19th October 2005
  • Summary: WIDE VIEW OF DESTROYED AND WET BALAKOT WIDE VIEW OF RIVER RUNNING THROUGH BALAKOT
  • Embargoed: 3rd November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAA7LS77W1YNV9SVPPD9RXXC1N5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Engineers in Pakistan have been working around the clock to clear major road networks blocked by huge boulders. On Tuesday (October 18), heavy equipment was used to clear roads in Balakot - one of the areas in northern Pakistan badly hit by the October 8 quake.
    Tens of thousands of residents who have been left homeless by the quake have been trekking for days to get help.
    Despite a massive international relief operation, hundreds of thousands of victims are still without food, water and shelter.
    "Yesterday they travelled 15 kilometres by foot towards this side, " said Mohammad Ali who travelled from the eastern city of Lahore to check up on his family and friends in a village outside Balakot city. Despite the trek, he was relieved to see his loved ones safe.
    But there remains a huge task ahead. Engineers say continuous aftershocks which could trigger further landslides and this remains a big concern.
    "I much appreciate all the international agencies and NGOs who are really who are really strengthening the government of Pakistan at this time and especially the kind of job," said the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Zeb Alkhali. Huge delivery trucks loaded with tonnes of aid are now expected to go further into villages once roads have been cleared. "There are areas were the road has been completely washed out if you go beyond Balakot there is no road up till Mahanbi from there onwards the road networks are there, in between the roads have been completely washed out, " said the State Minister of Information and Broadcasting , Zeb AlKhali, who was in Balakot to assess the progress of road-clearing.
    Aid workers are racing against time in getting help to those who need them most. With winter due to begin in a few weeks, there are fears that there could be a second wave of deaths if proper shelters are not given to the estimated 3 million homeless victims.
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