Military rescues another 120 people stranded in Swat

RAWALPINDI, Aug 28 (NNI): About 145 flood victims have been rescued through Army Aviation Helicopter rescue operation who have been moving to Kanju Cantt.
As per a statement released by military’s media wing – Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) at least 145 people have been evacuated by helicopter.
As many as 110 affectees were rescued from Khawazakhela while 35 people have evacuated from Kalam.
Some people stranded on hills couldn’t be evacuated due to bad weather. However, the statement said that continuous contact was being maintained with them and they have been shifted to safer spots around those mountains tops.
Those people are safe and will be evacuated by army aviation helicopters as and when weather permits, ISPR said.
Meals & necessary medical care are being provided.
It said people to avoid traveling towards Swat and surrounding areas due to flash floods.
Earlier, at least 25 students from Lahore are among more than 80 tourists who got stuck in Kumrat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had appealed to the government to expedite rescue operations as they are running out of food and drinking water.
They are also running out of energy sources to charge their mobile phones.
Talking to a private television channel, a girl named Marium said that there are eight girls and 17 boys who were on tour from Lahore, and have stuck in Kumrat’s harsh weather for the last two days.
“May be the government is sleeping .. where we should seek help?” she asked, adding, “It is raining continuously [here], and we have been sleeping on wet ground.”
According to the report, the bridge connecting Kumrat Valley with adjoining areas was washed away and more than 80 tourists got stuck in different locations within.
In this regard, Barrister Saif Ali Khan, KP government spokesman said that he has already directed to expedite rescue operation for rescuing stranded tourists in Kumrat Valley. He said that due to landslides and rains, it is a very difficult rescue operation as fissures have appeared in multiple small and large bridges. “But I assure people that the government will rescue them as soon as possible,” he said. NNI