On a survey: NDMA, PDMA chiefs visit Chitral to assess flood damage

CHITRAL: 

Following directives of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, the chiefs of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (#PDMA) visited flood-affected areas in #Chitral on Tuesday.

NDMA Chairman Major General (retd) Muhammad Syed Aleem and PDMA Chairman Asifur Rahman visited the deputy commissioner’s office where they were briefed about the flood and losses caused by it.

Addressing a gathering at the venue, Aleem said humans cannot stop natural calamities but can minimise losses through better planning. He also expressed grief over the seven lives lost in the recent flood in Chitral and said people should move towards safer places.

“A project has been launched to create awareness about how to be safe in natural disasters and deal with critical situations to avoid damage,” said Aleem, adding affected people would be compensated and reconstruction of infrastructure would also begin soon.

Meanwhile, residents demanded both disaster management authorities to provide funds to remove the rubble of damaged houses from Rachin village, which has been one of the worst-hit areas. They also asked for strengthening Kunar River’s protection wall to avoid water from overflowing again along with constructing a power house at its banks.

Demands for rebuilding the main mosque in Rachin village and exempting people from paying electricity bills were also put forward to the officials. The officials could not visit Kalash valley due to dilapidated roads and inspected the area in a helicopter instead.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2013.