Monday, October 10 2005 14:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: With the death toll of Pakistan's worst ever earthquake estimated to cross over 40,000, aid started pouring in from several countries with the United States pledging 50 million dollars, including special planes and helicopters to evacuate victims to safety.

Rescue work has been hampered in the worst-hit areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where alone over 30,000 people are feared to have been killed in Saturday's killer earthquake, due to landslides leading to blocked roads.

Pakistan Air Force has mobilised its entire fleet of helicopters to airdrop relief material and evacuate those wounded.

With adequate relief not reaching PoK, there have been reports of hungry people trying to break locks of shops leading to clashes with shopkeepers in Muzaffarabad. They also spoke about looting of deserted homes.

UNICEF estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 people have died in Pakistan and PoK. Children accounted 50 per cent of the population in the affected areas in northern Pakistan and PoK, UNICEF spokeswoman Julia Spry Leverton was quoted as saying.

The US-led coalition in Afghanistan is dispatching five Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and three Black Hawks along with support staff to Islamabad.

The US has announced an initial aid of 50 million dollars to Pakistan and has sent two disaster response teams to help in rescue efforts.

US President George W Bush also spoke with Musharraf last evening and said that his country was sending cash and helicopters to help with earthquake rescue and recovery.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke to President Pervez Musharraf last evening and extended all possible assistance in relief and rescue efforts.

Britain has offered an initial 100,000 pounds in aid and dispatched a 60-strong rescue and relief team to Pakistan to help in rescue efforts.

A C-17 US military aircraft containing blankets and winterized tents, 250 rolls of plastic sheeting - sufficient for nearly 2,500 families has been rushed to remote areas of Pakistan, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in Washington.

Malaysia has announced one million dollars in aid and airlifted 50 specialists comprising rescue personnel, doctors and government officials to help in Pakistan's relief efforts.

Indonesia has said it would send a medical team, tents and other emergency supplies to quake-affected areas.

Russia has sent a cargo plane to Islamabad carrying, tents, beds, and blankets for the victims of the temblor.

Musharraf had appealed for international Hel, saying his country cannot deal with the aftermath of the massive earthquake on its own.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz conducted an aerial survey of Pak-occupied Kashmir and the North Western Frontier Province, the worst hit areas by the quake.

"We have reached many remote areas but there are still many have to be reached," he told reporters late last night.

The earthquake has caused widespread death and destruction in the affected areas but there was no evidence of damage to any major infrastructure, he said.

The road leading to Abbotabad in NWFP has been reopened that would help to expedite relief efforts, Aziz said.

Appreciating the quick response from the world community, the Prime Minister said he received calls from many heads of the state and government who offered all assistance to Pakistan in these trying times.

Apart from financial assistance, Pakistan urgently needed tents, blankets and medicines as winter was fast approaching in these areas and mercury continued to drop, he said.

In the later stages, support would be needed to help people in their reconstruction efforts and in building roads which on many places have been completely damaged by the landslides.

"It is a major catastrophe and we need all the help we get," he said.

To expedite airlifting of people stranded in the remote areas, Aziz said the government had requested for transport helicopters and the American 'Chinooks' based in Afghanistan.

Responding to a question, he said there was no evidence of any damage to any major infrastructure.

However, one of the engineers working on hydro-power projects in the area lost his life.

Prime Minister Aziz said independent damage assessment was underway and figures on fatalities were being calculated methodically.

On any pre-assessment on the scale of damage, the Prime Minister said it would be difficult to calculate the financial impact but there were number of areas the government was looking in.