The death toll from the earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has risen to 30, with the injured numbering around 450.
Yesterday, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale had hit northern Pakistan. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was near Mirpur, around 20 kilometres north of Jhelum.
The earthquake had ripped apart roads while vehicles had been overturned by the tremors. Bridges, mobile phone towers, and electricity poles were also badly damaged due to the shocks.
The quake created panic in Lahore and Islamabad while the shocks were felt as far the Indian capital of New Delhi.
The earthquake was also felt in Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Charsadda, Swat, Khyber, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Nowshera, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan.
Sources at the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) reported that Mangla Dam had lost 900 megawatts of power after the earthquake as the turbines had been shut down as a precaution.
The sources further revealed that both the dam and its powerhouse were safe.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has informed citizens to expect aftershocks within 24 hours of the earthquake.
Furthermore, the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered army troops to partake in relief activities in AJK and other affected areas.
In this regard, Pakistan army’s aviation and medical teams had been dispatched to earthquake-hit areas.
Moreover, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the concerned departments to provide support in the rescue activities in the areas hit by the earthquake.
While expressing grief over the loss of life due to the earthquake, he ordered NDMA to increase relief activities in the affected areas.