Quake kills 29 People in Pakistan, Army on Alert

Islamabad, Oct 26: At least 29 people were killed in Pakistan on Monday when a major earthquake with its epicentre in Afghanistan hit parts of the country, media reports said.

The quake was felt in most of the northern parts of Pakistan including such major cities as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargoda and Kohat, officials said.

Four people were killed in the Bajaur tribal region near the Afghanistan border after buildings collapsed in the area, Dawn reported. A child was killed in Kallar Kahar and six people were killed in Swat Valley, it added. A wall collapsed in Sargoda in Punjab province, injuring 10 people.

Dunya News TV reported that a part of Bala Hissar fort in Peshawar had been damaged. Authorities said the Pakistan Army had been put on alert. Troops had been directed “to carry out immediate rescue work in any affected areas without waiting for formal orders”, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa tweeted.

Army teams had been sent out for a quick assessment of earthquake damages across the country, he said. The official added that all command military hospitals had been put on high alert.