MANSEHRA: The survivors of Balakot on Tuesday observed 19th anniversary of the 2005 devastating earthquake with agonies and tears.

“Our pains and agonies through which we had passed some 19 years ago in the unmatched earthquake of recent years are still afresh,” Javed Iqbal, president of traders association in Balakot, told journalists.

The survivors from red zone Garlat and Balakot, which were crumbled to ruins in 2005 devastating earthquake, gathered at the mass grave of more than 63 students at the local high school and offered fateha for the departed souls.

More than 17,000 people, most of the women and children, were killed in the tragedy some 19 years ago. The students of government high school Balakot, which was completely ruined in the tragedy, also visited the mass grave and offered fateha for those, who were killed in the tremors.

Traders also visited the mass grave and offered fateha. Mr Iqbal said that people of Balakot were still suffering from the brunt of the tragedy as dozens of schools were yet to be rebuilt.

Assistant Commissioner Basharat Bibi also visited the mass grave at the school and offered fateha. She told the participants of the ceremony that tehsil administration was working to address problems and issues faced by locals.

“Though pains of locals are still afresh, government is addressing all issues faced by them,” she said.

The survivors of Balakot, who are still living in makeshift houses, said that government should allot them plot at New Balakot city housing project. “The project, which was initiated with Rs12 billion by then army ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2007, is still in doldrums,” said MPA Munir Hussain Lughmani.

He said that he also raised the issue on the floor of provincial assembly the other day demanding completion of the mega housing project and allotment of plots to survivor families of red zone Balakot and Garlat.

Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal told journalists that New Balakot city project was handed over to provincial government by the federal government and soon its execution would be resumed and plots would be allotted to survivor families.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2024