AJK earthquake casualties rose to 38: Chairman NDMA

The death toll from yesterday’s earthquake has rose to 38, with more than 500 injured so far as rescue activities are underway in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

While addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad, Chairman Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal confirmed that 38 people have died, while 579 people injured as a result of the earthquake in AJK.

He further informed that at least 1619 houses were destroyed completely, while 7100 cattle farms have been damaged in the quake.

The strong earthquake of 5.8-magnitude brought disasters to different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The quake hit some urban and rural parts of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) including Muzaffarabad, Kotli and many other scattered places.

The reports from AJK’s Mirpur stated that deep cracks emerged on roads near Jatlan Canal situated in Upper Jhelum and several cars were overturned into it.

The AJK information minister told media that the concerned authorities have taken immediate measures for providing relief to the affected people besides analyzing the damages and casualty rate following the strong earthquake.

Chairman NDMA Muhammad Afzal said that 14-kilometer road in Jatlan was badly affected by the quake, adding that the machinery of Pakistan Army was working to repair the road which will be opened for light traffic by tomorrow evening.

The NDMA chairman said the quake victims are being provided with tents, blankets and food items including flour, sugar, ghee and rice.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has visited the earthquake-affected areas of Azad Kashmir, ISPR reported.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS also reviewed the ongoing damage repair efforts at Jatlan Canal Road.