ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The residents of Islamabad were jolted out of their slumber early Saturday morning by a fierce and relentless earthquake, the worse ever in the history of Pakistan.

A residential block of the posh Margalla Towers, one of the capital’s landmark buildings, collapsed within seconds like a house of cards. Being on the spot minutes after the tragedy took place one saw hundreds of panic-stricken people rushing towards the building after the news spread like wild fire. There were clouds of dust and smoke, as if some hurricane had ripped through the area. The air was filled with desperate screams of occupants trapped in the ill-fated building.

It was numbing, horrifying and unbelievable. The scene was almost reminiscent of the 9/11 images when the twin towers collapsed in New York. Only this one was caused by a natural calamity. Frightened residents of other adjoining blocks rushed down the fire exits in their night clothes holding half-asleep children when they saw the building collapse. Many ran out bare feet. Water from a huge broken overhead tank gushed down the troubled spot. People were seen breaking their apartment window glasses to make a fast exit, resorting to make-shift ropes out of bed-sheets and shawls.

The anxious relatives and friends of people living in the apartments dashed to the scene looking for their dear ones. They were praying and weeping, men and women, some yelling and fighting to get in when stopped by those having the apartments evacuated. They made frantic calls from their mobile phones to establish contact with their acquaintances. Some fainted with shock while others stood there helpless and agonised as disorganised rescue work commenced amidst unnerving aftershocks.

Stunned and traumatised by what they had just experienced, many occupants evacuated from their apartments just sat outside in the open in a state of paralysis.

Helicopters kept circling around, landing and taking off after every few minutes, raising clouds of dust. Emergency sirens kept blowing as ambulances lined up and a contingent of policemen added to the chaos and commotion.

Hundreds of people gathered there within minutes to help out women, men and children trapped in the debris. There were perhaps as many and if not more spectators.

It was a living nightmare and just like walking out of mouth of death, says Mariam Shakeel a resident of an adjacent apartment building. Visibly shaken by the sight of the towering building caving amidst shouts and desperate cries, she said: “I thought that was the end and we were all going to die.”