Sialkot dust-storm: 'early rehabilitation of victims top priority'

Federal Minister Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday has assured that PPP-led government would fulfil its responsibilities for rehabilitation of the people of badly affected villages.
Talking to the affected people in village Bahadurpur, she said that special attention has already been accorded on restoring electricity and telecommunication system in the affected villages on top priority basis. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, share the sufferings and pain of the affected families. The minister further said that special teams have been constituted for assessing exact loss, adding that grants for rebuilding of destroyed houses would soon be issued.
Earlier, the federal minister visited Allama Iqbal hospital and inquired about the health of every injured person. On the directions of Prime Minister government would provide Rs 0.5 million to each family whose members lost their lives in the tragic whirlwind incident while Rs0.1 million each would be given to those sustained injuries, she said.
It may be mentioned that five persons were killed while 79 sustained injuries when a strong dust-storm hit Bahadurpur, Chakrala, Nazirpur and Dera Bhattian villages, destroying as many as 118 house, shops and wheat crop. Most of the people were injured due to the collapsing of roofs, walls and felling of trees. Rescue operation is in full swing and medical camps have been set up to facilitate the affected people. A large number of people are visiting the city to witness damages caused by the storm.