SKARDU: Intermittent rains over the past week have played havoc in the two districts of Baltistan region, killing three persons, damaging hundreds of houses, and triggering landslides, blocking roads at several places.
HunzaNews, September 10th, 2014
Three persons were killed and several others injured when a passenger van on way to Saltoro Siachen from Skardu was hit by a landslide in Ghuwari village.
The injured were shifted to district headquarters hospital, Skardu where their condition was stated to be stable.
In Skardu, roads leading to Askoli, Shila, Arando Tormik and Kharmang valleys have been blocked due to landslides.
Hundreds of houses have either been damaged or destroyed. However, local people have already been evacuated from their houses and shifted to safe places.
Similarly, hundreds of houses have been damaged in Ghanche district, forcing people to take shelter in mosques and schools.
In Mashabrum subdivision, hundreds of houses and cattle sheds have been destroyed, killing livestock and uprooting thousands of trees.
Meanwhile, on the directives of Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary, the local administration is collecting detailed data of losses of property so the affected people could be compensated, Mashabrum assistant commissioner Wazir Iqbal told Dawn.
He said that over 300 residents of Fushukhor and Trangpi Grong villages had been evacuated and shifted to safe places after heavy rocks hit the hamlets.
On the other hand, sources said that Skardu-Khaplu road had been restored to traffic after remaining blocked for a week, while the famous Siachen road and other link roads were still blocked at several places.
They said that shortage of road clearing machinery was hampering restoration work.
Owing to blockade of roads, hundreds of passengers, including patients, students and government employees, have been stuck in Khaplu, Sino and Askoli areas.
Local residents accused the Ghanche district administration of apathy towards their problems.
They said that due to blockade of the all important Siachen road, they had to use mountain trails to reach markets for purchasing commodities.
Published in Dawn
