Best possible care will be provided to earthquake victims: COAS

Dunya News

Gen Bajwa said normalcy be restored with speed rendering full assistance to civil administration.

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that best possible care will be provided to the victims of the earthquake.

In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army Chief visited earthquake affected areas of Azad Kashmir and reviewed the ongoing damage repair efforts at Jatlan Canal Road.

On the occasion, Gen Bajwa said that normalcy be restored with speed rendering full assistance to civil administration and taking best possible care of the affected population.  

It is pertinent here to mention that on Wednesday, the COAS directed an immediate rescue operation in aid of civil administration for victims of earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The army troops with aviation and medical support teams have been dispatched following the directions of the COAS.

At least 26 persons were killed and more than five hundred injured as 5.8 magnitude earthquake rattled Azad Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan.

Several houses, shops and buildings collapsed in different parts of Azad Kashmir, whereas, images obtained from the affected areas show massive cracks on roads.

Rescue teams rushed to the spot and emergency was also declared at all the hospitals.

Meteorological Department said that according to its assessment, the epicentre of the 5.8-magnitude quake was located near the mountainous city of Jehlum in the Punjab province.

"The quake was 10 kilometres deep and was felt in most of Punjab province, some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The worst hit was Mirpur, Azad Kashmir," Chief meteorologist Muhammad Riaz told.