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Century’s worst earthquake hits India, Pakistan : Over 30,000 killed |
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More than 30,000 people are feared killed in Pakistan and parts of northern India, in the most powerful earthquake to hit the region in 120 years on Saturday, October 8. Most of the casualties are in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where the epicentre of the quake was located. It measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale in Pakistan and 6.8 in India.
The death toll in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is put at over 19,000. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for international aid to tackle the crisis.
India offers help
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sent a message to Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf expressing grief at the heavy casualties in Pakistan caused by Saturday’s earthquake. He said New Delhi is prepared to send any assistance to Pakistan in terms of rescue and relief. The message said, “We have been distressed to learn of the extensive loss of life and property that has taken place in Pakistan as a result of the severe earthquake. On behalf of the Government and people of India and my own personal behalf, please accept our sympathies and please convey our sincere condolences to those who have been bereaved as a result of this tragedy.”
Death toll in India
In Jammu and Kashmir, about 400 people are reported to have died. The death toll may rise as rescue team are still to reach remote areas in the mountainous region. The northern areas of Baramullah and Uri were the worst hit in the earthquake. In Uri alone, more than a 100 people died. More than 20 troops also died in the earthquake.
Rescue and relief operations have been mounted on a war footing to bring succor to the affected people. The Army and para military forces are in the forefront in providing relief to the quake victims. The Union Cabinet had an emergency meeting on Saturday night, October 8, to review relief operations in the affected areas of the state. An immediate assistance of Rs. 100 crore is being rushed to the state. A central team will be sent to Jammu and Kashmir shortly to oversee the relief operations.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has said that the nation is standing with the victims of the worst earthquake to hit Jammu and Kashmir. The Government will rebuild all towns devastated by the quake. Speaking after touring Uri town, she said, “Lack of money and relief materials will not be allowed to hamper the return of normalcy to the devastated towns.”
“No effort will be spared in ensuring that every tear is wiped away from the eyes of the affected families,” she told a gathering of survivors outside the Indian Army hospital at Uri, a town close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and located over 100 km from summer capital Srinagar.
Noting she was deeply pained and anguished by the impact of the quake that she described as a “national disaster”, Gandhi told the victims that the entire country was with them in this hour of tragedy.
As soon as reports of the massive earthquake rocking the northern states came in, after a quick review of the situation, the Centre offered all assistance. The Government directed key central ministries, the Army and the Air Force to restore power and other essential services and render full help in search and rescue operations, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
While Power and Communication Ministries have been asked to help in restoring electricity and telecom services, the Petroleum Ministry has been asked to stand by to provide any assistance, Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told reporters.
The Home Ministry’s Control Room is working round-the-clock and scrutinizing reports from the quake-affected states to assess their requirements. Duggal said the focus of the relief and rehabilitation activities will be on Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, where the strongest tremors were felt.
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