ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed to carry out immediate rescue operation in aid of the civil administration for victims of earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General said that Pakistan army troops with aviation and medical support teams have been dispatched to the earthquake-hit areas.
Earlier, a powerful earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale in different parts of the Country on Tuesday afternoon.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 5 kilometer north of Jhelum while its depth was recorded as 10 kilometers, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad.
The tremors were felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Daska, Peshawar, Chiniot, Mansehra, Batagram, Torghar, Mirpur (Azad Kashmir), Bhimber (Azad Kashmir), Jhelum, and Mandi Bahauddin.
So far as per reports, Mirpur area of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) has been the most affected by the earthquake, wherein multiple buildings were damaged and roads were cracked.
#Earthquake wreaks havoc in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/Un79HrK3L7
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) September 24, 2019
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mirpur Azad Kashmir Raja Qaiser also confirmed the death of one woman.
Sources said that seven people died and more than 100 including women and children suffered injuries when the earthquake created havoc in various parts of the Country especially in Mirpur.
یااللہ خیر کشمیر میں پچاس سے زائد افراد ذخمی۔ خواتین اور بچے بھی شامل زیادہ میر پور کا علاقہ زلزلے سے متاثر ہوا ہے pic.twitter.com/SvysvLd8N0
— m.zulqarnain haider (@zulqarnainARY) September 24, 2019
In a statement, the Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said that an emergency has been declared in Jhelum District after today’s earthquake.
Usman Buzdar said that they have dispatched the DC Jhelum along with ambulances and the medial staff to AJK.
The Chief Minister said that the Disaster Management Authority in Punjab is collecting all the details. He said that directions have been issued to make preparations to deal with any possible emergency.
All the field staff & ACs have been directed to visit their areas to check the damage, if any, due to earthquake.
— Deputy Commissioner Lahore (@DCLahore) September 24, 2019
Building Control, Fire, Emergency, Rescue Teams and all ACs are in field to check effects of the earthquake if any. As of now, nothing adverse has been reported in Islamabad Capital Territory.
— Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) September 24, 2019
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed all the concerned departments to provide immediate assistance of all kinds to carry out relief activities in the quake-hit areas.
The prime minister also expressed concerns over losses as a result of the earthquake.
