Bitter memories of the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005 still linger on as the nation today is observing 18th anniversary of the disaster which claimed over 70,000 lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Islamabad besides flatting scores of several villages and towns and leaving millions of people homeless, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
The earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale, struck at around 8:52 AM.
Muzaffarabad was the hardest hit, because the epicentre of the quake was just 19 kilometers (12 miles) to its northeast, while Balakot and Mansehra in KP were no less affected as thousands lost their lives in these areas too.
The earthquake, which was also felt in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India and the Xinjiang region, is considered the deadliest earthquake in South Asia, surpassing the 1935 Quetta earthquake.
The main ceremony in connection with the day was held in AJK capital Muzaffarabad’s Khurshid Hassan Khurshid Football Stadium.
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwaarul Haq was the chief guest on the occasion, while members of the AJK cabinet, members of the Legislative Assembly, secretaries and people belonging to nearly all walks of life were in attendance.
Siren was played and a minute’s silence was observed at 8:52 AM; the very moment when the quake had struck AJK, KP and other parts of northern Pakistan.
Later, the AJK PM laid floral wreath on the memorial of martyrs.
Similar ceremonies were also held in other parts of the AJK and KP.
Reporter: Safeer Raza