The death toll from Tuesday's devastating earthquake in southern Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) has climbed to 37 with over 500 people injured, officials said Wednesday. According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the death toll is feared to go up as 80 injured are in critical condition. The federal government and the government of Azad Kashmir have deployed survey teams to review affected areas.
According to Commissioner Mirpur, AJ&K, Chaudhry Muhammad Tayyab, the devastating earthquake killed 37 people, injured over 500 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. However, the NDMA Pakistan has put the death toll at 25 in Mirpur while one person was killed in district Jhelum of Punjab, said a situation report issued by the authority here on Wednesday. The number of injured people, according to NDMA, is 459 in AJ&K and 7 in district Jhelum. According to NDMA, 80 out of 459 injured persons are in critical condition and the authorities are providing them best available treatment.
The 5.6 magnitude earthquake was felt by residents of the federal capital and several other cities, but most of its brunt was borne by northern areas, especially district Mirpur of AJ&K. A bridge connecting Bhimber and Mirpur, Munda Bridge and Jatlan Road were also damaged. The NDMA update further said that electricity supply to Kotli and Mirpur districts has been restored. Giving the relief efforts being carried out by the authority, the NDMA revealed that more than 200 tents, 800 blankets and 200 kitchen sets, tarpaulins and first-aid kits have been dispatched to affected areas.
Around 20 ambulances, six rescue vehicles and 110 rescuers have been dispatched by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab while the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has sent nine doctors, three paramedics and ambulances as well as 200 basic life-saving medicines and surgical kits. Four doctors and five paramedics are on standby in Polyclinic, as are 100 beds in the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital and Federal General (FG) Hospital.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda Wednesday contacted NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal and offered assistance for earthquake victims. The Japanese envoy expressed his grief over the damages rendered by the earthquake, a message received here said. The NDMA chairman while thanking the ambassador informed him that at present earthquake damages and losses are being reviewed. If any foreign assistance is required, it would be conveyed accordingly, he said.
Moreover, Prime Minister of AJ&K Raja Farooq Haider Wednesday visited earthquake-hit areas of Mirpur and directed for further expediting the relief operation. The Prime Minister listened to problems of the quake-affected people and ordered for resolving these issues. He directed the AJK officials to provide tents to all victims by that night. He said women and children should be provided relief on priority basis. The quake-hit people would be rehabilitated as soon as possible, he added.
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