Quake death toll hit 450 in IHK
From Abdul Sami Lone

SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, death toll in yesterday’s massive earthquake has gone up to four hundred and fifty and is likely to further rise, as reports pouring in from different parts, speak of heavy loss of life in far flung areas. According to Kashmir Media Service, Baramulla and Kupwara districts have been worst affected. There were pathetic scenes all around the Uri town and its adjoining areas as almost every house there has been damaged due to the quake.
One hundred and forty-two people died in Baramulla, 51 in Kupwara and 18 persons in Jammu. Estimates of damages to houses and other structures in different areas were, Kupwara 50%; Trehgam 47%; Handwara 47%; Nowgam 90%; Tangdhar 90%; Lolab valley 40%; Ramhal 60%. At least forty-one Indian troops were killed and scores of others injured as the massive earthquake damaged bunkers and barracks along the Line of Control in Baramula, Kupwara and Poonch districts.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, accompanied by APHC leaders, Advocate Muhammad Ashraf Lone and Shahid-ul-Islam, visited today the earthquake affected areas of Uri and distributed relief goods, including tents and blankets, among the affectees. He expressed sympathy with the affectees and appealed Kashmiris to come forward in a big way for relief of the quake affected people. The Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik, also visited Uri and handed over relief goods to the affectees. The President of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, visited Uri, and some other affected areas of Baramulla, for on the spot assessment of losses suffered by the people. He gave a call to Kashmiris to extend all out relief and rehabilitation assistance to the quake affected Kashmiris.
In occupied Kashmir, at least forty-one Indian troops, were killed and scores of others injured as the massive earthquake damaged bunkers and barracks along the Line of Control in Baramula, Kupwara and Poonch districts. According to Kashmir Media Service, army bunkers and barracks were caved in, at Rampur, Uri, Tangdhar and Gulmarg areas in Baramulla and Kupwara districts. One army soldier died in Poonch district.
The devastating earthquake took a heavy toll of property in occupied Kashmir, damaging over 1,000 houses, besides the 155-year-old Poonch Fort, reports Kashmir Media Service. The tremors razed to the ground a wall of the Poonch Fort, which was built by Raja Abdul Razaq Khan in 1713 A.D.