PESHAWAR (Staff Report) – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government on Tuesday announced a Rs 3 Lakh compensation for the families of those who died in Monday’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
The province was worst damaged by the calamity.
According to a statement those left injured in the tragedy will also be given Rs 1 Lakh each.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed that more than 2500 houses were completely destroyed as a result of earthquake.
As many as 228 people have been confirmed dead while 1620 remain seriously injured as well.
According to a spokesman for NDMA the media reports of 80% totally demolished houses in northern areas of the country are not true. Houses are located in distant areas and this is the reason not many houses were completely destroyed in earthquake, he added.
He further added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malkand division was worst affected by the earthquake and there are confirmed reports of more than 150 deaths from this area only.
NDMA has handed over a helicopter to provincial authorities in KPK to assist in rescue operation while special teams have also been dispatched for Gilgit Baltistan, he said.
Meanwhile according to Twitter account of DG ISPR Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa, a c-130 aircraft has been dispatched for Chitral carrying 7 tons of ration and 2500 ready-to-eat meals. Additional medical teams along with 1000 tents and blankets are also on board the plane.
Moreover 20 tons of ration, 10000 ready-to-eat meals, 1000 tents and 500 blankets have also also been dispatched by road for earthquake hit Dir district, he said.
He said that a special assessment mission has also been initiated by Pakistan army and relief and rescue operation through air is also underway in remote areas. More than 45 landslides have been cleared from Kharakuram Highway and special rescue teams and ground troops have been moved in the areas of Gilgit Baltistan, he added.
He further added that DG FWO is personally present at Kharakuram Highway to monitor the rescue operation and capacity of all Combine Military Hospitals (CMHs) in affected areas has been enhanced by 30% to admit maximum number of injured.
