Islamabad: Severe earthquake jolts were severely felt across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, today at 4:00p.m. The Earthquake measured to be 5.8 on the Richter scale caused heavy destruction across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing 28 people and severely injuring more than 400.
Following the Earthquake, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released a press statement which stated that the epicenter of the earthquake was detected to be 5km North of Jhelum, with a depth of 10km from the surface. While, highlighting the places most heavily affected by the tremors to be: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujrat, Gujjar Khan, Swat, Mardan, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, amongst many others.
Source: http://www.pmd.gov.pk/en/ereport.pdf
As a safety measure, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) reported to have suspended the transmission of power from Mangla Dam; however, after ensuring that no damages to the dam were caused and after cleaning the water, the dam resumed operations. Subsequently, WAPDA also claimed a loss of 900 megawatts worth of power, which might result in power shortage in certain areas of Pakistan.
Unfortunately, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was the area most heavily devastated due to this earthquake. After which, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa directed aerial and medical troops to survey and provide support in AJK.
Post the directives by the COAS, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor, reported that aerial surveys of AJK had been completed and that medical teams were taking due measures to treat all the injured. He further instructed all army personnel to cooperate and work in harmony with the local civil administration of Azad Jammu Kashmir.
While, efforts move forward to reduce the damage AJK has suffered and army personnel work rigorously to save lives and provide support; NDMA’s warning regarding aftershocks that might take place in the earthquake-hit areas within the next 24 hours is a cause of concern for many citizens across AJK and Pakistan.
In the wake of this tragedy, NDMA has requested the public to share all damages or losses suffered to the authorities and also instructed the people to take precautionary measures to avoid loss of lives and property.
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