October 8 quake bigger than tsunami: Crocker

The US Ambassador in Pakistan Ryon C Crocker termed the earthquake in Azad Kashmir and NWFP as bigger than Tsunami disaster and said it needed a long-term planning to rehabilitate of the quake victims. He was talking to newsmen after visiting the earthquake-affected areas of Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas.
He said the US government was extending all kind of support to the Pakistan government both of humanitarian and in reconstruction of the affected areas.
He said 158 medical teams and engineers were taking part in relief and rescue operation besides providing medical facilities to the victims. This help, he said would continue as long as AJK government was needed.
Earlier, the US ambassador took an aerial view of the quake hit areas of the city and adjoining areas and also met the US army engineers who were specially trained in reconstruction and rehabilitation and now stationed in Muzaffarabad to start rehabilitation working in quake hit areas.
The US army engineers also brought with them heavy machinery including bulldozer, cranes and earth levelling equipment along with more than 130 technical staff and manpower.
The US ambassador also briefed the media about the expertise of US construction forces.
He said US Army has established a surgical hospital equipped with the latest medical facilities to help victims of devastated areas.
He took a round to the hospital and visited various wards and inquired about the health of patients admitted in the hospital.
He said the hospital had medical care and health facilities that were available in the best hospitals in United States.
About 90 patients were being treated in the US military hospital while six serious injured operated upon in the hospital. 21 surgeons and 28 nurses were looking after the patients, he added.
Earlier, AJK Chief Secretary Kashif Murtaza and General Officer Commanding Murree Major General Khalid Nawaz briefed the US envoy about the losses of lives and property in AJK. The US Ambassador also informed about the relief and rescue operation launched by Pakistan army and civil administration of AJK.