Quetta Jolted with trembling Earthquake

By

Talha Masud

 

It is not for the first time that earthqauke had spread fright in the Quetta masses. The historic 1935 earthquake in which the ancient Quetta was almost completely transformed into the new Quetta, there always remained fears in the public that this catastrophe can any time occur in the terrain. Quetta has witnessed most earthquakes after the Skardo district in Pakistan. More or less, it again has brought extreme destruction and frustration. Being located on the quake-sensitive zone, the city is always in danger of this natural calamity.

It was the year 1992, in which I was five and half years old when I witnessed the first earthquake of my life and despite being a kid that time, I always remembered that horrible scene and the aftermath of the quake. Since than, it was embedded in my mind that this is the most sudden natural occurrence and one should be well prepare for it, more importantly, when you are in the danger zone. Seismic activity/waves are always horrifying but a pre-defined point in this is that the collapse of buildings is the only reason of the loss of numerous lives from the earthquake. Even in the recent one, the Ziarat district is almost destroyed and Khanozai area of Pishin plus few outskirts are heavily effected. Throughout Balochistan, this development has increased much more concern for the people and agencies not to waste any time of doing a positive action by rescuing as much survivors as they should.

8th October 2005, was very disastrous for the people of Pakistan and there is no need to explain about the immense destruction and the aftermath which is known by many but the supportive gesture from the common public was exemplary which really negates the point that we are not ready to give a crushing reply to these mishaps. When I was in the fund raising team of my college, I have even seen the man on a donkey cart donating five hundred rupees that activated me a big deal. Though personally, we can’t make much difference but many a little really makes a mickle as did in one of the most devastating earthquake. I do not advise expecting from Government. I firmly believe that we should expect from ‘Ourselves’ to face the disaster that can bring us back on track more quickly.

Taking the opportunity, I appeal to all my friends and readers of this blog that please take a step for giving a hand to the fellow-men of ours because who knows tomorrow we would be the victim and some other kind hands would come up to take us out of the rubble of not only stones, but of despair as well.