Balakot remembers 2005 earthquake victims

A solemn prayer ceremony was held at the mass graves within the premises of Mansehra High School, Balakot, on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake - one of the deadliest natural disasters in Pakistan's history.

Teachers and students of the school, local traders, and officials of the district administration attended the event. Participants offered special prayers for the thousands who perished in the disaster and for the peace, prosperity, and security of the country.

The 2005 earthquake struck northern Pakistan at 8.50am with a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicentre was near Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with tremors felt across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, and as far as northern India and Afghanistan. The powerful quake reduced towns such as Balakot, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad to rubble, destroying homes, schools, and hospitals, and triggering massive landslides that cut off remote mountain communities.

According to official figures, more than 73,000 people lost their lives and over 70,000 sustained injuries, while around three million were left homeless. Independent estimates placed the death toll at over 87,000.

In the wake of the catastrophe, the Pakistan Army, local volunteers, and national and international humanitarian organizations launched extensive rescue and relief operations. Helicopters were deployed to reach isolated valleys, and emergency supplies of food, shelter, and medicine were distributed to survivors. The global community, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and international aid agencies, extended substantial assistance. A donors' conference in Islamabad in November 2005 secured pledges exceeding six billion dollars for relief and reconstruction.

To oversee rebuilding efforts, the government established the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), tasked with reconstructing homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure under the principle of "build back better." Over 400,000 houses and thousands of public facilities were rebuilt, though progress in remote regions remained slow due to terrain and logistical constraints.

At the ceremony, speakers paid heartfelt tribute to the victims and lauded the resilience of the affected communities. They also stressed the need for sustained disaster preparedness, improved early warning systems, and earthquake-resistant construction practices to minimize future losses.

Floral wreaths were laid at the graves, and prayers were offered for the eternal peace of the departed souls and the continued safety and prosperity of Pakistan.