Smoke-emitting mountain terrorises Allai villagers
As reported earlier, aftershocks, emission of smoke from one of the mountains, and constant sound of blasts have terrorised the entire population of the Allai in Battagram district since the October 8 earthquake and prompted the government to make plans to evacuate reluctant villagers from their beloved valley.
Abdul Sattar alias Tooti, Nazim of union council Battila in Allai Valley, told The News from Abbottabad that the earth has been shaking constantly in the wake of the October 8 quake. He said furious noises emanating from the earth and the mountains have created a scare and made life miserable for the people of Allai.
“The smoke-emitting mountain in question is located between Battila and Ganthar villages. A huge crack appeared in the mountain after the quake and the emission of blue smoke is playing on the nerves of the people. Making matters worse are the frequent blasts that one hears from womb of the earth,” he explained.
Sattar admitted that the military and the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRCP) have done a commendable job by delivering tents, blankets and food to the quake affectees in Allai through helicopters.
However, he said more tents were needed for the 150,000 population of Allai where the quake has demolished or damaged almost every house. He thought the aftershocks and the sight of the mountain emitting mysterious blue smoke is making villagers change their mind and now most of them would be willing to evacuate, at least for the winter months. Surveys done by relief workers and non-governmental organizations showed that 98 per cent of houses in Allai were either destroyed or unsafe for living.
Fazle Rabbi, Nazim of union council Sakargah in Allai valley, pointed out that two children, one being Aqidad’s three-year old son Salim Khan, died due to cold four days ago in Paashto village because the families didn’t have tents.
“The cold would kill more people than the earthquake. Allai valley becomes very cold in winter and even winterized tents would not be able to protect the dislocated villagers,” he argued. Talking to The News, he also reported the death of two men in Tandol village, which is part of his Sakargah union council, after being hit by falling rocks due to aftershocks.
“The aftershocks are taking toll of whatever was left in Allai. Houses that were somewhat intact are now collapsing and no family is willing to stay indoors even if their homes are still standing,” he added.
The Frontier Works Organisation has at least thrice reopened the Thakot-Allai road after clearing the landslides. But every aftershock causes another landslide and closure of the road. Villagers pointed out that not a single truck has been able to enter Allai valley via this road since the earthquake 16 days ago.
They said delivery of supplies to Allai and evacuation of the injured by helicopters have saved lives and immensely benefited the stranded population of the valley but the reopening of the road was essential to allow movement of vehicles carrying more relief goods and badly needed commodities.
Meanwhile, a military officer said teams of geologists and seismologists have returned from Allai valley after conducting tests to determine whether the smoke-emitting mountain there was volcanic.
Major Shahid, an aide to Brigadier Khalid Mahmood Ahmad, head of the Pakistan Army’s forward base in Battagram, told The News that the findings of the geologists and the seismic survey team weren’t available yet.
“We are waiting for their report. But we are all convinced that the area in question is dangerous in view of the aftershocks and evacuation is necessary to save lives,” he stressed. He said heavy snowfall would likely start around November 5 and even winterized tents would be unable to protect the homeless people of Allai from the bitter cold. Admitting that the villagers were reluctant to leave the valley, Major Shahid said efforts were being made to convince them to evacuate to safer places.
“There was a tremor after Iftar on Tuesday. It happens all the time here in Battagram and in Allai. The mountains have become weak following the earthquake and every aftershock brings more landslides and blocks the road to Allai valley,” he said while explaining the difficult task of keeping the roads open.
Talking to this correspondent earlier, Brigadier Khalid Mahmood Ahmad confirmed that he had seen the blue smoke emitting from the mountains after flying in a helicopter over the Ganthar and Battila villages.
“After receiving reports, I decided to see for myself whether all this is true. I can now confirm that smoke is indeed coming out of the mountains and one can hear the sound of frequent blasts. We have made plans to evacuate the villagers in case of an emergency.”
However, he was quick to refute speculations and rumours about existence of an active volcano in the area. “There is no evidence yet that the mountains are volcanic. Geologists from foreign countries have been to Allai valley collecting data and we should wait for their findings instead of jumping to conclusions,” he stressed.
Brig Khalid said a unit of Pakistan Army had been deployed in Allai at the central village of Bana and soldiers are spreading out to villages to deliver aid and evacuate the injured. He said villagers near the smoke-emitting mountain have been approached and asked to shift to the tent village set up in Bana.
“We are offering them shelter and rations at Bana. We want all the affectees living on mountain ridges to leave the danger zone,” he said. Lt Col Zakeer Ahmad, commander of the army unit based in Allai valley, said in an interview to BBC Urdu Service Tuesday night that a meeting would be held in Battagram today to prepare an evacuation plan in light of the directive by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
He said the plan would be implemented in three stages and the villagers from the more dangerous areas would be first brought to the central village of Bana in Allai and then shifted to Thakot outside the valley on the Karakoram Highway.
In the last stage, the Allai villagers would be moved to a tent city in Haripur or Havelian. “It is a huge and challenging operation. Evacuating so many people isn’t going to be easy,” he said. Lt Col Zakeer also made it clear that there was no evidence of volcanic activity in the mountain in Allai valley.
Source: The News
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