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Rain, Snow Halt Chopper Flights In Quake-Hit Pakistan
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan (AFP) Nov 27, 2005 Heavy rains and light snow in the mountains hampered relief work in quake-affected areas of Pakistan on Sunday, compounding the misery of millions of survivors, officials and witnesses said. "Bad weather stopped flight operations in the affected areas," a spokesman for the army's relief effort in Pakistani Kashmir, Major Farooq Nasir, told AFP. "Relief operations by air have been hampered but the ground relief is going on," he said. "Roads are still open and so far there is no information of any landslides causing blockades." Pakistani troops, local and international aid agencies are engaged in a race against time to provide relief and shelter to millions of survivors of last month's devastating earthquake, which killed more than 73,000 people. Another 70,000 people were seriously injured in the 7.6-magnitude quake on October 8, the worst calamity in the country's history. It flattened villages and towns, leaving some 3.5 million homeless, officials said. Meteorological department chief Qamaruz Zaman said the rain had started on Saturday, and was continuing sporadically in northern Pakistan and parts of Kashmir on Sunday. "It is widespread rain in the valleys, while mountains above 8,000 feet (2,425 meters) have so far received up to one foot of snowfall," Zaman told AFP. "We predicted snowfall in the end of November, and it is the beginning of the harsh weather now." An AFP photographer in Muzaffarabad said snow was visible on the mountains above the quake-ruined capital of Pakistani Kashmir, where thousands are living in tent villages. People were seen placing plastic sheeting over their tents to keep the rain water out. Inside their tents, men, women and children circled around fires to keep warm. Relief agencies have warned that the harsh Himalayan winter could lead to more deaths in the worst-hit districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelam Valley Bagh and Rawalakot. "We are expecting a harsher winter this year," Zaman cautioned, saying heavy snows were likely to continue disrupting aid airdrops. "Our bases are well stocked. We are prepared to continue the relief work and there is no shortage," countered Nasir. "We are advising people to come down from the mountains and pick up whatever they need," the major said, adding that people living below 5,000 feet have started coming down. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express News From Across The Stans
UN Calls On Central Asia To Cooperate With Each Other And Make Money
United Nations (UPI) Dec 08, 2005The U.N. Development Program says Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan could double their incomes over the next 10 years. That is a pretty ambitious projection by the UNDP in a report released in Tokyo Wednesday on the Central Asia states. The question is how? |
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