Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday reviewed relief and rescue operations being carried out in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir that were hit by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake leaving at least 37 people dead.
The army chief also monitored ongoing damage repair efforts at Jatlan Canal Road, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Wednesday.
“Normalcy [must] be restored with speed rendering full assistance to civil administration and taking best possible care of the affected population,” the military’s media wing quoted him as saying.
Earlier in the day, The NDMA chairman, while visiting the affected areas, lauded Pakistan Army’s timely relief and rescue efforts. He said the troops had started repair work on damaged roads. “By tomorrow, small vehicles will be able to use the roads that were affected by the earthquake.”
The NDMA chief assured that 1,000 food aid packages will reach the affected area soon and tents will also be provided to those whose houses were damaged or destroyed in the calamity.
Jatlan road, a major thoroughfare of the area, is now reportedly open for traffic while the main highway and several bridges have been damaged in the quake and are not open for commute.
Widespread power outages have also been reported from the area as local infrastructure, including transformers and electric poles, has been significantly damaged.
