200 soldiers, 6 Officers perish in earthquake
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said late Saturday that 200 army men included six officers died and another 300 army personnel sustained multiple injuries by earthquake that severely hit parts of Northern Areas (NAs) saying that these army men were deployed in Northern Areas.
“Though as many as 200 army personnel have been died by the tremor that jolted parts of NAs but the army men are busy carrying out relief activities in the affected areas while communication system has also been completely collapsed,” Shaukat Sultan remarked.
He informed that decision had been taken to initiate aerial services because due to hurdles in road services relief goods would be dispatched through aircrafts to facilitate the affectees.
Some 29 special aircrafts packed with relief goods included medicines, blankets, tents and other relief goods would be dispatched to calamity-hit areas saying that army youths were making hectic efforts to remove hurdles from main roads to ensure access to affected areas, which would pave way for provision of relief goods.
Pakistan Army troops were moved Saturday for taking part in relief and rescue activities in earthquake-hit areas.
Director General, Inter Services, Public Relations, Maj. General Shaukat Sultan stated this while informing a private TV channel about relief operations in the wake of Saturday morning’s quake, which affected several parts of the country.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Northern areas were the worst-hit parts according to initial reports, the Press Secretary to the President said.
Reports of damages from Rawlakot and other areas of AJK were also received while in District Bagh, a village is reported to have been severely damaged. Similarly, he said, reports of losses were received from Pattan in the Northern areas. He said the Engineer Battalion of Frontier Works Organization, already present in the Pattan area, had started the relief and rescue activities. The Army helicopters have been flown to various places which are well-equipped to perform relief activities, he said.
These helicopters are also carrying medical teams and medicines to provide prompt treatment to the injured, he said.