Rescuers struggle to reach survivors

Rescuers raced against time on Wednesday to reach cold and hungry survivors of an earthquake that left entire communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan marooned in remote mountainous regions, as the death toll climbed to 370.

Rugged terrain, severed communication lines and an unstable security situation have impeded relief efforts since Monday’s 7.5 magnitude quake ripped through the region, triggering landslides and flattening buildings.

Desperate victims appealed for blankets, warm clothes and food after the quake levelled thousands of homes, forcing many to camp out in the open in freezing weather.

The Pakistan meteorological department announced on Wednesday that colder and dry weather is expected in most of the earthquake affected areas during the next 72 hours.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Pr-ime Minister Nawaz Sha-rif on Wednesday annou-nced Rs 6,00,000 compensation for heirs of each earthquake victim. Addr-essing a press conference in Peshawar, the Prime Minister said the government will extend full support to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in quake relief activities.

Mr Sharif said the compensation package has been prepared in consultation with the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and both the federal and provincial governments will share cost of the package.

In Afghanistan, mass burials were being conducted across the country, including those of 12 Afghan schoolgirls who were trampled to death as they rushed to escape their classrooms in Takhar province when the quake struck.

Flag-draped coffins arrived at a local cemetery on Tuesday as tearful relatives of the girls gathered for mass burials. Some of the survivor