Heavy Earthquake hits Pakistan, more than 250 killed

On Monday, A heavy earthquake hit Pakistan which has caused more than 250 deaths and more than 1300 injured according to last reports by local media.

The earthquake foundation was in Badakhshan, 254 km northeast of Kabul in Afghanistan and was 213 km deep of the surface , killed at-least 100 and several injured as reported by Afghan Officials .

According to US Geological survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was in between 7.5 to 7.7 which is the most highest magnitude of any earthquake recorded in Pakistan’s history.

The most effected province is KPK which has sustained the most deaths and injuries including 150 deaths and 956 injured.

The popular Chief of army staff Gen. Raheel Shareef has taken the charge of relief operations and has ordered every single troop to reach out and help every single victim even without the official orders.

Gen. Asim Bajwa tweeted;

Earthquake update:Army troops directed to carry out immediate rescue work in any affected areas without waiting for formal orders-1

— AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 26, 2015

He also did a survey of affected areas including Northern areas of Pakistan which are effected the most. ISPR Gen. Asim Bajwa futher tweeted;

EQ Update:#COAS flown to some affected areas,now lands at Corps HQ Psr.Corps Comd briefed him on damage assessment,Army’s response so far-4 — AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 26, 2015

This is the most disastrous earthquake after 2005 in which more than 80,000 people were killed and many were wounded. The Federal government has declared an emergency in the whole state as Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed told the media that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered the NDMA(National Disaster Management Authority) to create a separate cell for current earthquake crisis. PM Sharif has also shortened his UK’s visit after the current crisis in Pakistan and has said that he will be monitoring all relief activities. It will be a challenge for the government to overcome recent crisis created after the earthquake since Pakistan has already suffered some great floods in Kashmir valley in September and more than one hundred and thousand troops are involved in Operation Zarb-e-Azab against extremist groups in Waziristan. After the news of earthquake PM Narendra Modi offers Indian services to both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he tweeted;

I have asked for an urgent assessment and we stand ready for assistance where required, including Afghanistan & Pakistan. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2015

All civil and military relief authorities are ordered to remain ready for any possible situations but still much more needed to be done.