Call to provide relief to stranded men

HUNZA-NAGAR, March 17: Nine people have been stranded and over 300 yaks and 1,700 goats and sheep are reported killed on the high altitude Ghujerab and Pamir pastures in Shimshal valley due to heavy snowfall.Ghulam Amin, Chairman Shimshal Nature Trust, told this correspondent that the stranded people were facing shortage of food, as the unprecedented snowfall had made it difficult to supply relief items to them.

He said he had informed the local administration regarding the loss and demanded a helicopter to drop food items for the stranded people.

He said majority of the villag ers depended on livestock for their livelihood; therefore, the government should compensate them for the losses.

He said due to shortage of fodder and heavy snowfall, the remaining yaks and other cattle were also facing death.

Meanwhile, acting assistant commissioner Hunza Amir Khan left for Shimshal on Tuesday evening to deliver food items to the local community under the directive of the deputy commissioner Gilgit.

Talking to this correspondent, he said the chief secretary and the force commander Northern Areas would visit Shimshal in a helicopter on Wednesday to discuss the issue with the local people.  Also at Dawn

By: Zulfiqar