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COAS directs immediate rescue operation for victims of earthquake: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday directed an immediate rescue operation in aid of civil administration for victims of earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army troops with aviation and medical support teams have been dispatched following the directions of the COAS.

COAS ISPR

19 dead, 300 injured as 5.8 magnitude earthquake rattles parts of country

Earlier, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook different parts of the country including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Mirpur Azad Kashmir (AJK) on Monday afternoon claiming 19 lives. 

According to reports, the earthquake hit different parts of Punjab and KPK provinces. The affected ares include Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujarat, Kasur, Narrowal, Patoki, Sargodha, Okara, Attock, Jhang and Khushab in Punjab whereas Sawai, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Haripur, Attock, Malakand, Kohat, Buner, and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Parts of Azad Kashmir were also affected.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the quake hit at the depth of 10 kilometers and the epicenter of the temblor was about 5 kilometers North-northwest of Jhelum.
The duration of the earthquake was about 20 seconds.
Tremors in Mirpur Azad Kashmir caused significant destruction as roads were damaged and the communication system in the areas suspended. According to rescue sources, two people also lost their lives as the roof of their house collapsed after strong temblor.
As many as 300 people have been injured during the earthquake, said a rescue official.
Deputy Commissioner of Mirpur AJK said that the injured were being taken to the nearest hospitals.
“Emergency has been imposed in all hospitals in order to deal with any kind of circumstances. Doctors have been put on alert,” he said.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.