Thank You, Citizens of the World

It’s the third day today since the massive earthquake hit Pakistan. According to an estimate around 17 cities got heavily affected by the quake. The majority of the affected areas are still lingering on without any material help. Pakistani government has made repeated frantic calls for more rotary wing aircrafts since most of the roads leading into these cities have been rendered useless due to heavy land sliding. The 72 hour window of opportunity is fast closing for the people still buried under tons of rubble in various northern cities where no relief teams (including Pakistan Army) have reached yet for one reason or another.
The confirmed death count as of now is somewhere around 20 – 40,000. But this is strictly an estimated body count. Authorities have no idea as to how many people still remain under the rubble hence there is a strong possibility that this no. might again catapult in a day or two when relief efforts will actually reach the far flung and the hardest hit areas. The threat of disease due to decomposing bodies buried under the rubble, fast deteriorating living conditions, lack of food and medical supplies is fast becoming real as well to the millions of people who have been stranded due to this natural disaster.
It is still heartening to see that the world didn’t turn its back on the quake victims in Pakistan. There has been a tremendous response to Pakistan’s calls for international help in carrying out relief operations. Millions of dollars are getting piled up in relief funds and many teams from across the world have landed in Pakistan to take part in relief efforts. As a Pakistani myself, I just want to say Thank You to all the people who are playing a part in on going relief efforts in Pakistan.

More pictures from the disaster area.

BBC

Flickr "earthquake" cluster

Geo

According to current estimates the no. of people dead has catapulted to 18,000 with the majority of causalities occurring in the Kashmir region (17,020). Till as of now no major rescue party from outside has reached the affected region so there is a strong possibility that death count might increase. Rescue teams from all over the world including Britain, Germany, Russia, Abu Dhabi and Turkey are on there way to Pakistan to help in relief, search and rescue operations.

UPDATE:

And the catastrophe continues to unfold. AFP has just quoted Minister of Works and Communication of Azad Kashmir that rough estimates put death count in the Kashmir region alone at somewhere around 30,000. This is the worst ever natural disaster to struck Pakistan. My thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those who died. And may God bless the souls of those who perished in this natural calamity.

UPDATE 2:

This picture depicts the aftermath of the quake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The completely devastated city shown in the picture is 'Balakot'. May God Almighty have mercy on the souls lost in this calamity.

Earthquake in Pakistan

As many of you may know by now that yesterday at around 8:50 am local time a severe earthquake measuring 7.8 on the richter scale hit Pakistan's capital Islamabad, NWFP and Kashmir. Right now the no. of people dead resides at over 3000 and is expected to rise. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and many have lost their loved ones. In this hour of need the affected Pakistanis need all the help they can get.

Kindly deposit any clothing, blankets or non perishable items at PAF Museum - new parking lot - on Sunday, 9th October (PAF Museum, Near Karsaz Chowk, Shahra-e-Faisal Karachi-75350) . The Pakistan Airforce and Army are looking for your help. You may contact the PAF Museum at the following numbers:

1. 9248326 - 36 (10 lines)
2. 48512481 - 83 - 84

You can deposit your donations at:

1. Islamic Relief Fund

2. Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)