At least 335 people were killed, many otheres injured and scores of people were rendered homeless as a 7.5 magnitude temblor struck in South Asia. The earthquake was chiefly felt in Kabul, Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. It was also felt in several northern region of India. US Geological Survey has placed the epicentre of the quake near Jarm in the Hindu Kush mountains. Official reports placed the death toll of 335, for now. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew home to deal with the emergency, cutting short his US visit.
Helicopters were needed to reach the most remote villages, many of which were inaccessible by roads. Given Afghanistan's lack of resources, Pakistani helicopters and planes were being used to transport relief supplies and military engineers are currently trying to restore the disrupted communication lines. The prolonged tremors are considered to be one of the worst experienced in the region. A resident from Lahore, Waqas Habibi Rana said, “As soon as we felt the first tremor we stepped out of our home. It stopped for a few seconds, but started again. The third tremor was really severe. It was by far the worst earthquake I have ever experienced in Pakistan. Everyone was scared and praying. It has triggered a landslide in Baltistan.”
Insisting it does not need International assistance to cope with the disasters, the Pakistani army has responded to the crisis. While the civilian officials have warned that the death toll could rise, Inayatullah Khnan, minister for local government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of the worst affected Pakistani provinces said, “The district officers in those areas have informed me there were many villages and buildings that got totally destroyed. We are trying our best to utilise every facility we have and already have sent mobile ambulances carrying every facility of a hospital towards Upper Dir.” Afghan officials said at least 74 people were confirmed dead and hundreds more injured, with casualties reported from around half a dozen of the country’s 34 provinces. The Kabul government has called for international aid agencies to send help.
Joining hands, the Taliban promised help to those affected. “The Islamic Emirate [Taliban] calls on … charitable organisations to not hold back in providing shelter, food and medical supplies to the victims of this earthquake,” the group said on its website. “It similarly orders its mujahideen in the affected areas to lend their complete help to the victims and facilitate those giving charity to the needy.”
