Quake: three years on

THE October 8 earthquake of 2005 was a tragedy of immense proportions to say the least. The quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale caused widespread destruction in Azad Kashmir, and surrounding areas, including parts of NWFP, killing 74,500 people, while leaving millions homeless. Such was its intensity that most of the towns and villages around Muzaffarabad, the epicentre, were completely wiped out. According to experts in terms of the number of people affected, the calamity was worse than the tsunami of December 2004. However, three years down the line, the area still presents a picture of disaster. Different bodies that were set up, like the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority and others, have not succeeded in completely pulling the region out of chaos. A large number of people continue to live in makeshift camps, facing harsh weather conditions. However the international community, should be commended for its all-out support. Initially, countries like China, Turkey, US, Saudi Arabia helped us greatly in rescue efforts. The real worry, however, is that the locals are finding it hard to make both ends meet because of limited business opportunities. Likewise, the plan to raise new infrastructure like schools has not been fully implemented.