By Sajjad Shaukat
Undoubtedly, we always
remember the innumerable services and sacrifices of the Pakistan’s Armed
Forces, as noted in relation to the military operations again the
terrorists—resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), floods,
desilting of canals (Bhal Safai) etc, entailing restoration of law and order on
many occasions. In the recent past, Armed Forces were in the frontline for
people-salvage from areas of earthquake which hit Balochistan. During any
natural calamity, the personnel of the Armed Forces coped with situation
boldly.
In this regard, 8th
October reminds the tragedy which Pakistan faced due the earthquake in 2005 and
Pakistan’s Armed Forces again rose to the occasion to meet the aftermath
courageously by contributing to the relief efforts.
At 8:50 a.m. local time,
a magnitude Mw 7.6, the most powerful earthquake struck the Himalayan region of
northern Pakistan and Kashmir. The earthquake epicenter was located
approximately 9 km. north northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of
the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, known as Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).
The main focus of death and destruction targeted northern Pakistan in a wide
swath from Peshawar to Azad Kashmir.
Media attention riveted
the first morning on rescue efforts directed at the two collapsed blocks of
“Margalla Towers” in Islamabad’s posh F-10 sector, diverting attention from the
massive human and material devastation in Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan
valleys till hours later. With electricity and telephones lines down reports
about a greater disaster in the mountains came in patches, eg 30% houses
collapsed in Mansehra, 60% in Muzaffarabad, 80% in Rawalakot and Balakot etc,
entire villages perched on the hillsides disappearing in mudslides. In the next
24 hours 40 aftershocks (of which only 17-18 were perceptible) added to the
panic.
The Pakistani
government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although
it is estimated that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Approximately
38,000 were 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 earthquake affected more than
500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to
collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate
shelter from the harsh winter.
It is estimated that
more than 780,000 buildings were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and
many more were rendered unusable for extended periods of time. Out of these,
approximately 17,000 school buildings and most major hospitals close to the
epicenter were destroyed or severely dam-aged. Lifelines were adversely
affected, especially the numerous vital roads and highways which were closed by
landslides and bridge failures. Several areas remained cut off via land routes
even three months after the main event. Power, water supply, and
telecommunication services were down for varying lengths of time, although in
most areas services were restored within a few weeks.
Massive landsliding was
a particular feature of this event. A very dense, high-frequency band of
landslides was triggered along the fault rupture trace in the midslope areas;
however, it quickly dissipated with distance away from the fault rupture zone.
Almost all landslides were shallow, disaggregated slides, with two of them
larger than 0.1 km2. Due to the generally arid landscape, liquefaction was not
observed or reported by others.
However, it was the most
powerful earthquake to hit this region in 100 years. The critical Karokoram
Highway (KKH) remains blocked due to landslides in many places along its entire
600 kms length. So is the main road to Muzaffarabad. Nevertheless, some alternate
roads had been cleared; evacuating casualties to nearest hospitals and
providing supplies was almost totally dependent upon helicopters.
Limited by numbers in
coping with the magnitude of the devastation, Army Aviation helicopters
did magnificent work, keeping the relief momentum going. Pakistan’s MI-8s and
MI-17s were not enough to cope with such a catastrophe. My heart goes out for
the helicopter crews. Chopper flying in such conditions takes its toll. The
wear and tear on the helicopter and crews monitored closely, they pushed
themselves beyond normal endurance limits. But, I say this with pride that in
the face of this catastrophe our “eagles” did not listen and I salute them for
their unmatched services in relation to the relief operations.
In this context, the
then Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public
Relations (ISPR) initially confirmed 18000 dead and over 41000 injured. With
villages perched precariously on sides of the mountains, and the timing (about
9 am) during Ramazan, one feared that this would be revised upwards many times
over, it could well be beyond 60000 dead, a mind-boggling 90000 to 100000, even
more. Almost all my company employees (security and courier personnel) from
Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan valleys lost some loved ones.
Pakistan Army paid
immediate attention to disaster relief and to restore basic services of
electricity, water etc. No government can really plan for the worst. The
first few days were always chaotic and haphazard. President Gen. Pervez
Musharraf led from the front, showing the way by visiting nearly all disaster
areas and many hospitals.
Although Pakistan’s
civil authorities, NGOs, foreign entities, the US and other countries’ role is
appreciable regarding provision of medical treatment, other basic needs to the
affected persons of the earthquake, yet credit goes to Pak Army which played
major role in this respect.
In this connection, a
permanent “Crisis Management Agency” was established under the Chairman Joint Services
Committee (CJSC) for effective coordination of ground, air and naval resources
in support of the effort of the civil administration. In order to address the
post-disaster issues—taking note that people would be without food and shelter,
their children would be without schools, continuing medical care would be
needed and rehabilitation thereof, etc. The short, medium and long-term
economic consequences and remedial measures thereof had to be worked out, as
each disaster has different dynamics.
First or all, the
personnel of the Armed Forces proved the pre-position supplies, particularly
potable water, meals ready to eat (MRE), medical requisites, blankets, tents
etc. They included containerized field ambulance-medical units with doctors and
medicines.
Besides, the problem of
road closures was so significant that the Army dedicated 12 engineer battalions
to open roads. Owing to the Army’s extensive experience with road building, and
the availability of skilled builders in the mountain communities after many
years of building the Karakoram Highway, the opening and reconstruction of
roads was handled efficiently. At the time of the reconnaissance, the Jhelum
ValleyRoad, the Kaghan Valley Road, and the Karakuram Highway had been cleared
and opened. The Neelum Valley Road, the only other major road in the affected
area, had only a 5-km stretch remaining to be cleared. While most major roads
had been reopened, there is a vast network of tertiary roads serving the
mountain community in the higher elevations. Many of these roads remain closed,
cutting off populations which did not even experience the direct effects of the
earthquake and hampering relief efforts.
And several bridges were
damaged, especially within the Jhelum Valley and in Balakot. Personnel of the
Pak Army repaired the bridges.
Nonetheless, on this
very day, Pakistanis salute to their Army due to its unmatched contribution to
the relief efforts in connection with the earthquake of 2005.
Email:
sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
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