11th anniversary of 2005 earthquake today

Several events planned to remember disaster victims

MANSEHRA: Various events are being held here today in connection with the 11th anniversary of the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005.

About 87,350 people had been killed in the earthquake that had jolted various parts of the country with Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Hazara division being the worst hit.Approximately 138,000 people were also injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless.

According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings.The traders and shopkeepers in Balakot would observe a complete shutdown today.

The president of trader’s body in Balakot Sardar Abdul Qudoos made the announcement at a meeting held to remember 25,000 people killed in the city during the devastating earthquake. Balakot city was devastated when an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale hit parts of country in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammuand Kashmir on October 8, 2005.

The main ceremony to mark the day would be held at the mass graves of over 81 students of the Government High School, Balakot.The national and provincial lawmakers, representatives of district and tehsils councils, bereaved families and survivors will attend the event.

The mass prays would also be offered at schools and mosques in Balakot and Garlat union councils where people still have no other option but to live in makeshift shelters.Rustam Khan, tehsil nazim Balakot, speaking at a meeting, said that arrangements had been finalised at the Government High School.

Our correspondent adds from Battagram: Majority of school and hospital buildings either partially damaged or completely destroyed in the October 2005 earthquake are yet to be rehabilitated despite the passage of 11 years.

In Battagram district at least 60,000 buildings including 529 schools had destroyed. Among the damaged schools, 384 were reconstructed and the remaining school buildings were yet to be repaired. The other areas in Hazara division, which witnessed destruction, included Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohistan and Torghar.