Earthquake in Pakistan caused 200 deaths in Chitral, Malakand, Para Chinar, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Peshawar, Mingora, Shangla valley
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Unconfirmed information being gathered in Islamabad suggested that earthquake in Pakistan caused 200 killed, over 1300 injured in Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Malakand, Para Chinar, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Peshawar, Mingora, Shangla Par Alpuri, Shangla valley, and other parts of the country.
Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai condoled with victims of earthquake and said in her messages:
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the #earthquake in Pakistan and Afghanistan. – Malala
— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) October 26, 2015
Sources said that Malala Fund will work actively to raise support for the victim of earthquake soon.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif has directed to send 2,000 tents to earthquake affected area. One MI-17 helicopter placed at the disposal of KPK government for relief efforts. Nawaz Shareef kidney hospital Swat to be made functional immediately. A nine bed mobile hospital with team of surgeons to be dispatched to Dir immediately. All warehouses of NDMA have been opened up for provincial disaster authorities.
While talking to media in London where he is staying en route to Pakistan from USA, PM expresses his grief over deaths and devastation caused by the earthquake.
“I will personally monitor rescue and relief operation. I will visit earthquake affected areas. Indian PM offered for assistance in earthquake. I contacted with CM KPK Parvez khatak and directed him for rescue operation. All rescue institutions shall brief me tomorrow”, he added.
Pakistan Army and other rescue and relief departments are already reaching effected areas but information flow to cities about damages and deaths is slow because wireless telephone system including cellular phone towers were also destroyed in this earthquake. Experts who know these areas and their topography fear that death toll can be over 700.
First earthquake of the day in this region was reported at 9.45 am that came from 42 km East of Farkhar, Afghanistan. This earthquake was reported five hours before devastated earthquake.
Heavy landslides are being reported from Gilgit and Chitral while Hunza river was closed down by one landslide.
It may be mentioned that an earthquake measured 7.7 at Richter scale magnitude hit Tajkistan, Afghankstan and Pakistan on Monday afternoon. United States Geological Survey confirmed that the earthquake epicenter was 45 km North of Alaqahdari-ye Kiran wa Munjan, Afghanistan. Earthquake jolted Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Jolts were recorded as far as Lahore in Pakistan.
Major damages from Pakistan are being reported from Chitral, Hunza and Gilgit valleys while Northern Afghanistan and Gorno Badakheshan of Tajikistan were most damaged areas.
As per the official confirmation, 24 people died while 116 sustained injuries in various parts of Chitral after houses and buildings collapsed due to the earthquake. Meanwhile, the District Administration Chitral declared emergency and directed all heads of departments to be alert and present in their offices.
The earthquake was originated from Nuristan Afghanistan where Afghan Taliban have stronghold therefore information are not reaching instantly.
Panjshir province of Afghanistan was also partially destroyed. Earthquake partially destroyed Nuristan Panjshir valley in Afghanistan Autonomous region of Gorno Badakheshan in Tajikistan was strongly hit by the earthquake.
Heavy landslides are being reported from Gilgit and Chitral while Hunza river was closed down by one landslide.
Reports gathering from Pakistan suggested that Chitral and Gilgit received worst damage while Nuristan of Afghanistan was partially destroyed. Initial estimates suggested that over an area of 50 Km was fully destroyed while partial destruction was reported in the radius of 100 Km around epicenter.
It may be mentioned that a big earthquake was reported in 2005 October in same region. Destruction was less because epicenter was almost 212 km deep inside earth therefore this earthquake was not shallow as it was in October 2005.
