Summary General Raheel Sharif issued directives after an earthquake measuring 8.1 magnitude hit Pakistan.
RAWALPINDI (Web Desk) - Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has ordered the troops to utilize every possible resource for the rescue efforts of the affectees. General Sharif advised that the relief should reach every rural area affected by the earthquake and should be provided to every individual or family affected by the natural disaster. The Pak Army Chief also ordered the immediate dispatch of rations and tents for the affected areas. General Raheel Sharif reached Peshawar on Monday evening to monitor the reilef efforts personally, reported Dunya News.
According to Director General (DG) Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa, Pak army has started its rescue operations in the affected areas. DG ISPR stated that the Army Chief also took an aerial view of the affected areas. Core Commander Peshawar briefed General Sharif in Peshawar Core Head-Quarters on the destruction caused by the severe jolts and on the rescue efforts underway.
Pakistan Air Force has also offered the services of its C-130 air plane and helicopters to the National Disaster Management Authority (NMDA) for the relief efforts which can be used at any time
Malakand, DIr, Chitral and Bajaur were some of the worst affected areas. 127 deaths were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) alone while 950 were injured. 74 deaths were reported in Malakand division.
Earthquake update:Army troops directed to carry out immediate rescue work in any affected areas without waiting for formal orders-1
— AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 26, 2015
General Raheel Sharif has directed army teams for quick assessment of earthquake damages across the country.
EQ Update:in a snap conf,#COAS directed Army teams for quick assessment of earthquake damages across country spec remote areas.Teams left-2
— AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 26, 2015
All the combined military hospitals and rescue machinery have been put on alert, the army spokesperson said.
EQ Update:Troops mobilised,all CMHs put on high alert,Specialised EQ rescue machinery put on alert,Army helis mobilised-3
— AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 26, 2015
An earthquake measuring 8.1 at Richter scale jolted most parts of the country at 2.09 p.m. on Monday.
Strong tremors were felt Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Walls swayed back and forth and people poured out of office buildings in a panic, reciting verses from the Quran.
