600 households still trapped in Golen valley, residents appeal for help

CHITRAL: Over 600 households in the flood-affected Golen valley need immediate supplies of food and medicines as government agencies have still not reached them four days after the floods.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, area residents Bashir Ahmed, Fazle Hadi, Shakirullah and others said the road to Golen valley was cut off and the residents were trapped in their villages.

They said four days after the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hit the area, no government agency reached the affected people for help.

There is an urgent need of food items and medicines while patients are waiting to be shifted to hospitals. If prompt action is not taken, there is also chances of starvation in the cut-off valley, they added.

They also said the flood hit the area after one of the eight glaciers burst. There is a danger that the other glaciers may also burst causing more destruction, they added.

The residents called upon the army chief to order a relief operation in the flood-affected area and supply essential items to the stranded populace.

Meanwhile, village council Golen nazim Matiur Rehman alleged that the NDMA was rubbing salt to the injuries of the flood victims by making false claims of helping them.

He said the area people were facing food shortage and supply to the area is cut off and watermills of the villages were washed away in the floods.

At a meeting attended by district nazim and DDAC chairman MPA Wazirzada at WAPDA colony Kohuzi the MPA came down hard on government agencies for not helping the flood victims.

 

Reporting: Syed Nazir Hussain Shah & Muhkam Uddin Ayuni