200 mud houses collapse due to tremors in Khuzdar

QUETTA: More than 200 mud houses collapsed and cracks appeared in the walls of several other houses due to severe tremors in different areas of Wadh Tehsil of Khuzdar district on Friday.

Large boulders began to fall from the mountains and people left their homes reciting the Kalima Tayyaba.

Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Ilyas Kibzai, while confirming the losses, said that relief operations had been started in the affected areas.

According to details, strong tremors were felt in Wadh Tehsil, 100 km away from Khuzdar on Friday and in nearby areas including Ornach, Aranji, Nali, Barang, Dobli, Kun, Sonaro and Zamri.

The epicenter was reported below the ground, however; no tsunami alert was issued.

As soon as the quake hit, people rushed out of their houses reciting the Kalima Tayyaba. There was great panic among the people.

Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Major (retd) Muhammad Ilyas Kibzai, while giving details of the damage caused by the earthquake to the local journalists, said that about 100 houses had been completely destroyed while cracks had appeared in the walls of dozens of houses during the day. Since people were mostly out of their houses, no casualties were reported. According to sources, more than 200 mud houses were damaged and one child was injured.

He said that as soon as the quake was reported, rehabilitation work was started in the quake affected areas in the light of special instructions of Chief Minister Balochistan, Chief Secretary Balochistan and Commissioner Kalat Division.

“Food items for about 300 families including sugar, rice, pulses, ghee and other necessities like blankets, nets, mosquito nets, utensils etc. were sent to the affected areas. I am leaving for Wadh Tehsil to monitor the situation. We are trying our best not to cause any inconvenience to the victims. The task of rehabilitating them could be done as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to reports from Aranji and Nali, the quake has caused a lot of damage, causing irreparable damage to mud houses and displacing people.

“The government should declare the affected areas as disaster areas,” locals appealed.