ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: A large number of families living in multi-storied buildings are leaving their residences for safer places, fearing another series of jolts. After warnings from different private TV channels to remain careful for the next 48 hours as there was a possibility of more tremors, many people decided to leave their houses.

One can witness large cracks in some of the high-rise buildings particularly those built for residential purposes.

“Seeing the already cracked building no one will stay here as another jolt may be the last of my life,” said a resident of Gulshan-i-Jinnah Family Suites Complex F-5/1, a PWD building accommodating officials of grade 17 and above.

Imtiaz Ali, an employee of industries ministry, said he would return after two or three days when he was sure that the threat was over.

Meanwhile, fear is gripping the residents of other flat complexes and are in a fix whether to leave or stay for another day.

By midday many people in the twin cities were still sitting out in the open as aftershocks continued to rock buildings and houses.

Parks and open spaces in different sectors are filled with people who are fasting and praying to Allah for the wellbeing of their loved ones.

Their relatives from different parts of the country are trying to contact them while communication network is hardly catering to the massive local and international call traffic.

Islamabad’s busiest business centres remained deserted as people opted to stay with their families.

The panic-stricken people in the capital said the earthquake was a warning from the Almighty Allah for those who indulged in wrongdoings.

Ulema in the mosques asked people to seek blessings of Allah and urged them to refrain from wrongdoings, corruption, bribery and falsehood.—Agencies