Pakistan Observes Anniversary Of 2005 Devastating Earthquake

Islamabad, Oct 9, IRNA – Pakistanis are observing on Monday the 7th anniversary of devastating 2005 earthquake that had hit northwest and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing over 70,000 people. Gatherings are being organized in the affected areas to pay homage to the victims of one of the worst earthquakes in the country. The 7.6 tremors on Richter scale shook parts of Pakistan at 08:52 a.m. local time on 8 October 2005. The casualties resulting from the earthquake reached to 74‚698 according to officials‚ putting it higher than the massive scale of destruction of the 1935 the southwestern Quetta earthquake. More than 100,000 people were injured. The earthquake had destroyed villages, roads, schools, hospitals, bridges and caused massive land sliding in the most affected areas. TV channels are airing special programmes to remember those who lost lives in the major tragedy. Newspapers have also published special pages. Local media reports that affected people complain that reconstruction work has not yet been completed so far. Students in some areas say their schools buildings have not yet been built. In Pakistan administered Kashmir, sirens were sounded at 8.52 a.m., during which traffic stopped for one minute and silence was observed to pay homage to the martyrs. Later collective prayers were held in all the quake-hit districts of Kashmir. Prayers were also offered for those killed in Islamabad, when parts of a multi-storey Margalla Tower in the posh F-10 sector Islamabad collapsed, killing dozens of people. In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Kashmir, special prayers were held at University ground where floral wreath was be laid at the monument of martyrs of the earthquake. National flag was hoisted half-mast on all public buildings of the state to mark the anniversary. It is a close holiday in Kashmir. Functions were also held in other districts of Kashmir./end