Earthquake in Pakistan

As the national and international efforts are scrambled to synergize their efforts for the rescue of victims of the earthquake that had its epicenter at Balakot, it will take time before the true picture of the disaster emerges. Most of the worst hit areas are so remote and inaccessible that even in normal circumstances, it will need a superhuman effort by the entire relief effort to reach them in time and save precious lives. If not enough, even the weather is being unkind as most of Northern Pakistan plunges into sub zero freezing temperatures in the coming weeks. The Government’s most efficient machinery in the area i.e. the Pakistan Army deployed in Kashmir and maintaining the Korakoram Highway is itself badly hurt. With over 200 officers and men dead, the Army faces the twin tasks of reorganizing as well as carryout the relief work. The infrastructure is badly damaged adding to the problems of relief effort

The epicenter 10Kms below Balakot located at a height of 3Kms above sea level means that the epicenter was in fact 7 Kms above sea level, a factor that could have contributed to the wide spread of the shockwaves and the ripples it had as far away as thousands of Kms. The epicenter of the shock waves continues to move north, implies that the rift continues to travel and the two tectonic plates have yet not fused, meaning aftershocks and fear of more quakes.

Estimates of casualties given by the army appear conservative. Having traveled extensively in these areas in my adventure quests searching for peaks, markhors (mountain goat), brown bear, trouts and phytons, I have footed much of the area in the past thirty years. The entire area is interspersed with narrow meandering and climbing tracks that leads to villages of 10-15 houses, wherever the mountainside offers a level ground or terraces exist. Most of the construction in the towns and villages linked by road heads is shanty and not designed to take a shock of 7.6 magnitude. This is also the area where medical aid is otherwise scanty and has amongst the highest mortality rates of the country. Sliding of entire mountains ranging in heights from 2-6 Kms above sea level means massive land slides, avalanches and mudslides that block roads, cut off water streams and threaten to block rivers. A similar slide in the early 19th century near Bunji triggered a flood that wiped out an entire Sikh Army near Attock (River Indus) and flooded areas right up to Karachi. Structural damage to Tarbela Dam spillway, about 50Kms from the epicenter is yet to be ascertained. The Tarbela Lake itself is as close as few Kms from the epicenter near Oghi. It appears that the Army Engineers have cleared the blockage in Neelum River, a tributary of River Jehlum.

The disaster relief is a Herculean effort even for the most developed countries, not to mention Pakistan that lacks the engineering expertise to deal with such a catastrophe.

Some of the main points are: -
1. Pakistan alone cannot handle the crises. International synergy is need of the hour.
2. As the major vehicle of accessibility and logistics will be helicopters, Pakistan urgently need US Chinooks for hauling loads and Russian MI 17 and 24s for high altitude rescue and logistics.
3. There is a need of field hospitals under weather proof canvas with generators and heating arrangements as the area will soon plunge to sub zero temperatures.
4 Hospitals are also in need of medicines like antibiotics, blood and plasma along with life saving gadgetry.
5. There is an urgent requirement of heavy plant to clear roads and make approaches; and the necessity to get it there quickly.
5. Clean drinking water as the present resources would be contaminated.
6. Structures of Tarbela and Mangla Dams have to be examined to minutest detail.
7. Handling of displaced people.

So please my brothers and sisters, pray and help to whoever you can. We have the Pakistan Red Cross also called Hilal e Ahmer, Pakistan Army which is at the forefront of the rescue, Edhi, Anjuman e Himayat ul Islam and Caritas Pakistan. Please avoid the fly by night charities which will come and disappear.

Let us foster that cummanitarian spirit