I had only seen the pictures of devastation and obliteration on television and newspapers and had no idea what will be the real view, unless I travelled myself to those areas, couple of days after the earthquake played havoc in most parts of Azad Kashmir and some portions of NWFP on October 8, 2005.
We had just flown over the thriving green mountains of Murree when the affects of earthquake started coming into sight. The gigantic mountains had been cut from their edges and narrow roads lying in the foot hills were buried under the slides.
Bridges were washed away, isolated houses on the hill tops had shattered and towns were erased to the ground due to perfidious earthquake. The entire communication infrastructure in the area had been destroyed. Flying over the cities of Muzaffarbad and Balakot, one could see the unbelievable devastation. Both cities had been erased to ground; thousands buried under the rubble.
Once we reached Muzaffarbad hardly space was available for the Jet Ranger, carrying a media team, to land at Muzaffarbad stadium due to already parked 8 helicopters. Huge activity could be seen all around. The Muzaffarbad stadium - a small piece of ground was presenting a unique look; in the middle of the ground number of helicopters (including US and German Chinook) were parked.
All along the sides of the stadium, tents were pitched where hundreds of patients brought from forward areas were lying and doctors both from Army and Volunteers were attending them. On extreme corner of the stadium, an emergency operation theatre had been established where an intense activity could be seen. Army surgeons, called from all over the country, were operating the seriously injured patients.
There are rare examples in history matching the solidarity, unity and determination as displayed by the Pakistani nation after 8th October, 2005 earthquake. Though the earthquake struck some portions of Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province, yet the miseries were felt by the entire nation.
People from each nook and corner of the country came out for help and expressed their resolve, determination, harmony for their brethren's affected due to earthquake.
Volunteers- may it be doctors, workers or philanthropists reached in the far flung areas of Kashmir and NWFP in swift time. Army troops were already busy in rescue and relief operations. Long queues of trucks, carrying tons of relief items, were lined up from Karachi to Kashmir and Abbottabad.
PAF Base Chaklala became hub of rescue and relief operations, particularly, during first two months after the earthquake. The unprecedented Relief and Rescue Operation by Pakistan Army was launched from this Base. All Aviation assets of PAF, Navy, Civil Administration and NGOs were placed under command Army Aviation, and Aviatioin Operation Centre was established at Chaklala.
Those who happened to visit the base before 8th October will recall, that it was only used for the VIP movement. But on 9th October, the base was presenting a different look. Enormous activity could be seen; sky was covered with helicopters.
Those brought from forward areas were being carried immediately to the hospitals. Relief goods were reaching from all over the world and were being dispatched to forward areas. Army Logistic Directorate was made responsible for co-ordinating the reception and dispatch of relief goods. Army Logistics Control Headquarters was established at Chaklala with two Infantry Battalions and one Air Dispatch Company.
These units received and dispatched the relief good to affected areas. Army Logistic Control Headquarters managed to dispatch 23751 tons of relief items which included 138269 tents and 1048297 blankets and other relief items to affected areas. Approximately, more that 1100 Cargo air planes carrying relief goods were received from all over the world at PAF Base Chaklala in first three months.
On 8th October within 20 minutes, after the earthquake news reached General Headquarters, that the first helicopter was flown to Bagh. At 11:20 am the first casualty had been received in Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi. Within next one hour, as many as twelve helicopters, including nine MI-17 helicopters, were airborne for rescue operation in the earthquake hit areas. By evening, they had evacuated 595 seriously injured patients to the Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi and Murree.
Within one hour after the earthquake hit, the emergency had been declared in Combine Military Hospitals Abbottabad, Murree, Rawalpindi and Military Hospital Rawalpindi. The test of the nation had begun. By evening, the Emergency Relief Centre had been established at the Military Operations Directorate. The entire efforts of the Army had been mobilised.
The tents, blankets and food in the Army Stores were immediately issued for distribution among earthquake victims. The troops from Kharian, Sialkot, Lahore and Okara garrisons were moved immediately to affected areas. Army units deployed on the Line of Control near Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawlakot had themselves suffered due to earthquake but they continued to help the affected people in their area of responsibility. Subsequently, some 55000 troops of Pakistan Army were employed on relief and rescue operation.
In the next few days, the world witnessed some unprecedented air rescue and relief operations. As many as 141 helicopters, including 71 from Allied Countries and Non Government Organisations, participated in the rescue operation. Due to completely eroded road communication, air was the only link left for the rescue efforts. The tireless Army Aviation Pilots alongwith the support of the helicopters of USA, Germany and other countries flew at an average of 200 hours per day, to evacuate the injured from forward areas and provide them with relief goods.
During the month of October, Army Aviation Pilots flew over 4000 hours to evacuate more than 100000 patients to hospitals. Till April 2006 the helicopter had flown 12500 hours in affected areas for delivery of relief goods and rescue of injured. During the intense aviation effort Army Aviation Pilots undertook some daring missions and flew even at midnight to rescue the emergency patients and saving precious lives.
Army Aviation Pilots besides evacuating injured and providing relief goods in forward areas, also under took multifarious tasks like damage assessment, deployment of rescue troops, airlifting of Engineers Plants and deployment of International Rescue Teams.
Army Engineers accomplished the Herculean task of opening up the road communication network and construction of bridges. Fourteen Army Engineer Battalions were employed in affected areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP for this task. Main roads were opened immediately, which helped in boosting up the pace of rescue and relief operation.
However, the subsidiary roads in mountainous areas took some time to be repaired. Engineer Battalions also did an excellent job by removing rubble of collapsed buildings in Major cities and repairing of Public Sector infrastructure. The Army Engineers also made arrangements for provision of pure drinking water.
Most of the bridges culverts in Azad Kashmir and surrounding areas of Balakot had been washed away. Army Engineers put in lot of effort for the repair and reconstruction of these bridges in the shortest possible time. Moreover, the troops of Pakistan Army Engineers, helped locals in preparation of shelter before severe winter season in January and February. More than 1500000 shelters were prepared before onset of winter at the hill tops.
While taking about relief and rescue operations one can never forget the compassionate and gracious work of the Army Doctors and Paramedics. Statistics reveal, that in two week after the earthquake, the Surgeons at Combined Military Hospital and Military Hospital Rawalpindi operated 1920 patients for major and 3100 for minor surgery.
Such was the motivation of the Army troops. Where there was no communication link the relief goods were provided through Animal transport. Army Jawans carrying relief goods at their backs reached in all inaccessible areas to provide relief and succor to the needy people. Response to the earthquake by Pakistan has become a role model in the world.
Above all Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) remain committed in co-ordination of visit of Foreign and Local Media Teams to affected areas. A rough estimate reveals that ISPR in co-ordination with Ministry of Information conducted visit of more that one thousand foreign journalists. All compliments to all ranks of Army for their whole hearted support during testing times after 8th October.
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