K200,000 given as aid

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday November 6th, 2013

 THE re-opening of the Highlands Highway largely depends on work to retrieve the bodies of people buried by the landslide.

That follows the presentation of a K6 million demand by relatives and family members of the Barano landslide, in Daulo district, Eastern Highlands, yesterday.

Quick intervention by the Works Department and National Disaster Centre with K100,000 each has put mourning relatives at ease.

Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Superintendent John Kale expressed sympathy at the devastation.

He called for understanding to prevail and to allow the quick recovery of bodies and reopening of the highway.

Kale said police and the defence force presence at the site was to help speed up efforts to restore normalcy among affected families and the highway.

The Papua New Guinea Fire Services has mobilised equipment to the site to flush out debris and recover the bodies.

Works Minister Francis Awesa will visit the site today to discuss Government’s position on the disaster.

The highway remained closed for a third consecutive day yesterday.