PM condoles loss of lives in Pakistan quake

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has condoled the loss of lives in the earth quake that struck Baluchistan. In a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Dr Manmohan Singh said India is ready to offer all possible assistance.

“I am deeply grieved to hear of the earthquake that struck Baluchistan causing widespread loss of life and property. On behalf of the people of India, I express our sincere condolences to the families of those who have perished in this natural calamity. The Government of India stands ready to offer all possible assistance that you may require to provide relief to the people affected by this tragedy,” Manmohan Singh said in a letter to his Pakistan counter part Mr. Gilani.

At least 170 killed

As reports are coming, the powerful earth quake with a magnitude of 6.2 which struck Pakistan's southwestern Pakistan - Baluchistan province - on early morning of Wednesday, left at least 170 people dead and many more injured while hundreds were left homeless.

“The death toll can cross the figure of 200 as rescue teams have rushed volunteers to some villages where dozens of people are buried under debris of collapsed houses,” Ziarat district deputy administrator Momin Khan Dummar told IANS on telephone.

He said at least 150 bodies were recovered after the early morning quake but “I am afraid that still many people are under debris”.

Massive destruction and closure of roads were creating obstacles in rescue operations, he said.

Met official Abdul Rahman said two tremors had struck Balochistan at around 4.30 a.m., the second one bigger than the first.

“It was in north-northeast of Quetta at a depth of 15 km. The epicenter was about 185 km southeast of the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan,” Rahman told IANS.

According to the meteorological office, 14 aftershocks were felt until Wednesday evening and are likely to last for a week.

The army sent helicopters to the area to assess the damage and was deploying troops for rescue operations, military spokesman Colonel Baseer Haider said.

Emergency supplies and tents were being sent to the affected region, the National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement, adding 25 doctors and 100 paramedical staff were deployed in the Khawas field hospital.