Daily Times

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned on Tuesday that aftershocks can be expected within the next 24 hours in the earthquake-hit areas across Pakistan.

In a notification released in wake of the calamity, the NDMA said that all the protective measures should be taken to lessen the impact. It further urged the public to share any losses or damage with the authority.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal briefed the media regarding the damages suffered and rescue operations underway in the wake of a 5.8-magnitude earthquake which hit the northern parts of the country. “In Mirpur, besides the city, a small town Jatla, and two small villages Manda and Afzalpur were among the areas hit the worst,” he said. Besides this, some far-flung villages in Bhimber have reported injuries to people as well as small structural damages.

Speaking of infrastructural damage, Lt Gen Afzal said the main road going from Mangla to Jatla, which runs alongside a river, has suffered major damage. He said three major bridges have also been damaged, along with people’s residences. “There will be a proper damage assessment over the next 2-4 days,” he added.

According to Lt Gen Afzal, NDMA officers as well as Pakistan’s armed forces including ground troops have been dispatched to the affected areas and have either reached. “At this moment, the district administration teams, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) teams and our teams are already present in the disaster-struck areas,” he said. “I will go to those areas myself and will take a detailed tour of the area and will brief you further then,” he said. “In the first two days, our efforts will be geared towards carrying out rescue operations,” he said. He said over the next few days after that, besides relief efforts, a plan will be chalked out for rehabilitation, recovery and restoration of normalcy in the affected areas.