DUSHANBE, October 19, 2010, Asia-Plus  - Nearly 4 million somoni (equivalent to more than 900,000 U.S. dollars) are needed for reconstruction of residential buildings in Kamarob Gorge, Rasht district that were destroyed and seriously damaged during a special operation to hunt down illegal armed gangs in the area, Khaybullo Latipov, the head of the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CES), remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe today.

According to him, the district commission inspected the damaged houses in Kamarob Gorge and estimated damage caused to the houses at nearly 4 million somoni.

“We have already sent 120 tons building materials to Rasht and I think the houses will be reconstructed before cold weather comes,” Latipov said.

We will recall that the CES source told Asia-Plus on October 7 that three houses were destroyed completely and several others were partially damaged.  Besides, several barns were destroyed.

The October 4 RFE/RL item titled “Worries Grow As Tajik Government Continues Operation Against Militants” reports that woman from the village of Kochon, near Kamarob, told Radio Liberty that "three or four houses and a few barns were burned" in the latest clashes.  "Everyone had run away to hide when [the military operation] took place, so there was no one to put out the fire," she added.  Officials in Dushanbe have promised that the owners of destroyed properties will receive compensation from state.