20 years of devastating earthquake in Pakistan on Oct 8

Islamabad: It has been 20 years since the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan on October 8.

On October 8, 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction in Azad Kashmir and various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Hazara Division, and more than 80,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The terrifying earthquake turned settlements into piles of rubble, and bustling cities collapsed in a matter of seconds.

In this difficult time, the government of Pakistan, the people, and friendly countries played a vital role in bringing the earthquake victims back to life by carrying out timely rescue and relief operations.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale affected 56 percent of the population of Azad Kashmir. More than 46,000 people died in Azad Kashmir and 33,000 were injured, while more than 300,000 houses and thousands of educational and health institutions were reduced to rubble. Basic facilities were completely destroyed in 53 percent of the region.

Pakistan's armed forces completed the largest relief operation in history with 19,000 flights by 50 helicopters.

Out of 7,608 reconstruction projects, 5,878 have been completed so far, and work is underway on 919, while work has not yet begun on 811 projects due to financial constraints.

Similarly, out of 2,718 education projects, 1,606 have been completed, and 119 out of 160 health projects have been completed. The total reconstruction program is worth Rs225 billion, of which Rs181 billion has been spent, while the remaining Rs44 billion is needed.

A main ceremony will be held at the University College Grounds in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, on the occasion of the anniversary of those killed in the 2005 earthquake.

A wreath will be laid at the memorial of the earthquake victims, while awareness regarding rescue and relief during disasters will also be organized on this occasion.

The ceremony, organized by the State Disaster Management Authority, will also hoist the flags of friendly countries that came to the aid of the Kashmiri nation in this hour of difficulty.