The 19th anniversary of the devastating earthquake of October 08, 2005 will be marked in district Mansehra and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Several events have been planned in connection with the day which will be attended by local people, traders, local journalists and relatives of the victims of the quake. Quran Khawani and prayers will offered for those who died and survivors of the devastating earthquake 2005. A condolence reference will also be held at the Government High School Balakot during which floral wreath will be placed on the mass grave of 63 students at the school. The October 8, 2005 earthquake is considered the worst seismic disaster in the country’s history that left over 87,000 people killed in KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and other parts of the country.

The two cities bore the brunt of the devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was 19 kilometers northeast of Muzaffarabad city of AJK and struck at 8.54 am. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, a state-run coordination agency, some 87,350 people, including 19,000 children, lost their lives in the disaster, with over 138,000 more injured. More than 500,000 families were affected and some 3.5 million people left homeless, with the quake damaging over 780,000 buildings, including 17,000 schools and many hospitals. Around 250,000 farm animals perished in the disaster, according to the NDMA.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan