Horrible Earthquake In Pakistan - An Essay

Essay On
Horrible Earthquake in Pakistan

Natural calamities such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones are as old as, or even older than, human existence on Earth. These disasters are often so violent and furious that humans, despite their wisdom and inventiveness, can find themselves helpless and spellbound before them. They strike like a bolt from the blue, devastating large populations and vast areas of land in no time.

A catastrophic earthquake, the worst in living history, struck Pakistan on the 8^th of October (3^rd Ramadan), 2005, at 8:52 a.m., impacting regions of NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and a vast area of Azad Kashmir. It totally devastated cities such as Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Bah, Rawalakot, Mansehra, and Islamabad. Thousands of innocent children and students in schools and colleges, as well as men and women preparing to leave for their workplaces, found themselves trapped in this disaster, crushed to death under the debris of homes that crumbled like houses of cards. It is estimated that over 100,000 people lost their lives, and several hundred thousand were critically injured, maimed, or disabled due to this catastrophe. Thousands of individuals who were displaced from their homes had to seek shelter in makeshift tents, which were mostly ill-equipped for winter, braving the harsh cold and snowfall of the winter season. Tragically, many innocent children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals lost their lives as a result of these conditions. They have lived, and continue to live, without proper food or shelter in these improvised accommodations.

We are now faced with the grave challenge of providing the people of the devastated areas with homes and the opportunity to return to what we call normalcy as a nation. This is undoubtedly a monumental task that will require billions of dollars, which we hope to tackle with both national and international resources, and, above all, with the generous help of Allah Almighty. We take pride in the magnificent role played by the people and armed personnel of Pakistan during this time of crisis. Let us hope and pray that the unity, resolve, and spirit demonstrated by our people will not only be maintained but upheld in the years to come. This certainly will help us emerge as a great nation to be reckoned with in the world.