AJK Marks 21st Earthquake Anniversary With Resolve to Face Natural Catastrophes

rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), October 8: Azad Jammu Kashmir on Thursday observed the 21st anniversary of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake as Perseverance Day, paying tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the catastrophe.
In Mirpur, the anniversary was marked with a grand walk jointly organised by the district administration and Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT). The walk started from Quaid-e-Azam International Cricket Stadium and culminated at Chowk Shaheedan after passing through main city streets.
At exactly 8:52 a.m., a siren was sounded and a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the earthquake victims. A prayer was also held outside the cricket stadium, where participants prayed for the status of the martyrs of the October 8, 2005 earthquake.
The walk was organised to pay tribute to more than 80,000 people who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that struck large parts of AJK.
KORT representatives and volunteers led the walk. Hundreds of orphan boys and girls, students of schools and colleges, teachers, emergency services personnel, officers, employees of various departments and civil society members participated.
Speaking at the prayer ceremony, speakers paid rich tribute to the earthquake martyrs and expressed sympathy with those who lost their loved ones in the disaster 21 years ago.
Speakers recalled that following the October 2005 earthquake, UK-based Kashmiri expatriate Chaudhry Muhammad Akhtar established Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust to help rehabilitate children who had become orphaned and shelterless in the calamity.
The institution provided education and shelter support to orphaned children affected by the earthquake.
Speakers also recalled the support extended by the people of Mirpur to their earthquake-affected brethren during the difficult period. They shared their grief and expressed sympathy with those affected by the tragedy.
The anniversary activities highlighted perseverance, remembrance and disaster awareness while paying tribute to the victims of one of the worst catastrophes in AJK’s history.