Rain/floods And Cold Take Deadly Toll In Pakistan
Pastor Dale Morgan
Rain/floods And Cold Take Deadly Toll In Pakistan*
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more rain, floods and
snow in the Kashmir region during the next 24 hours, with temperatures
dipping as low as -8 degrees Celsius (17.6 Fahrenheit) in the highest
villages.
Muzaffarabad (AFP) Dec 05, 2006
Heavy rains, floods and cold weather have killed more than 20 people
across Pakistan and triggered landslides in earthquake-hit Pakistani
Kashmir, officials said Tuesday. Two key roads were blocked by landslips
resulting from continued rain and snow in the Himalayan region, where an
earthquake in October, 2005, killed more than 73,000 people and left
more than three million homeless.
Three children died of diarrhea and pneumonia near Muzaffarabad, the
regional capital, while many others were sick because of the freezing
conditions, district health officer doctor Sardar Mahmood said.
Police said a couple died in the Kashmiri town of Hajira late Monday
when the roof of their home collapsed. A landslide killed a labourer at
Chinari Bazar, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, the
regional capital.
Engineering teams equipped with bulldozers and heavy earthmoving
equipment were working flat-out in rough weather to clear landslides and
open all roads as quickly as possible, officials said.
The blocked Neelam and Jhelum valley roads out of Muzaffarabad are vital
to get supplies to more than 30,000 quake survivors who are spending a
second harsh Himalayan winter in tents.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more rain, floods and
snow in the region during the next 24 hours, with temperatures dipping
as low as -8 degrees Celsius (17.6 Fahrenheit) in the highest villages.
Meanwhile, seven children were killed in separate roof collapses on the
outskirts of Peshawar in neighbouring North West Frontier Province and
in the tribal district of Bajaur, bordering Afghanistan.
Police in the southern port city of Karachi said five people had died
from electrocution by loose cables in flooded areas or from cold-related
illnesses.
Five people were swept away by floods early Monday at Ornath village in
Khuzdar district, some 450 kilometres (280 miles) southwest of Quetta, a
paramilitary official said.
Source: Agence France-Presse