It would not be false to state that Pakistan has faced its shares of issues ever since its creation, be it economic, political, international conflicts wars, etc. Not to mention the various pandemics and still ongoing diseases that have yet to be eradicated in the country. And even though it has stood tall and prospered against an exceptional number of them, through the support of their allies and its public, there are some issues that man has no control over. And the nation and its history of natural disasters run deep, to say the least.
Geographically speaking, Pakistan is surrounded by mountain ranges on one side and borders the Arabian Sea on the other. For a country that has such a magnificent landscape, the probability of it confronting natural disasters statically rises. And therefore, history has recorded the nation facing numerous adversities in regards to the natural kind, taking the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people at a time, See Saidpur villages glorious past.
What is a Natural Disaster?
Science Direct defines natural disasters as
“Catastrophic events of atmospheric, geological and hydrological origins”.
In simpler terms, natural disasters can be defined as major, detrimental occurrences, which are the result of the natural process of the planet earth.
In today’s day and age, the lines between natural and man-made disasters can blur at times, the most accurate example being climate change, however, some of these unfortunate events occur solely due to earth’s changing affairs which cannot be controlled by man. The most prominent and destructive tribulations on the list include firestorms, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, cyclones storms, etc.
It is typical for a natural disaster to leave damages regarding economy and property in its wake. And unfortunately, many of these also consume several lives in their occurrence.
When it comes to Pakistan, the country has faced both major and minor disasters over the few decades that it has existed.
History of Natural Disasters in Pakistan
Even though the focus of this article is to concentrate on the calamities post-partition “Also, read about pre-partition architecture of Pakistan“, the earthquake in Quetta in the year 1935 was one of the worst that has hit the land in all its history. Occurring between 2:33 am and 3:40 am, it is said to be the deadliest earthquake that has ever hit South Asia, until that in Kashmir, 2005. Reports suggest that the death toll amounted up to anywhere between 40,000 to 60,000, all in a matter of 3 minutes, and multiple continuous aftershocks. At the time there were no instruments to measure the intensity of the earthquake but modern-day estimates put the magnitude of the earthquake to a minimum of 7.7 Mw. According to Wikipedia, the initial government report estimated a total of 20,000 people buried underground. A statement issued by the Queen’s Royal Regiment based in Quetta went as follows:
“It is not possible to describe the state of the city when the battalion first saw it. It was razed to the ground. Corpses were lying everywhere in the hot sun and every available vehicle in Quetta was being used for the transportation of injured … Companies were given areas in which to clear the dead and injured. Battalion Headquarters were established at the Residency. Hardly had we commenced our work than we were called upon to supply a party of fifty men, which were later increased to a hundred, to dig graves in the cemetery.”
The most horrifying fact was that many people who were buried under tons of debris and rubble were still alive. There were valiant rescue efforts made both by the British Army, Indian soldiers, and the locals that survived, however, the death and destruction that covered the ground was a terrifying sight to behold.
Other more destructive ones include:
The 1950 Floods – Hitting Punjab, with the worst hit taken by Lahore due to it bordering Ravi River, these series of floods is estimated to have taken 2,900 lives, wrecking about 100,000 homes leaving behind over 900,000 people homeless and on the streets, during the monsoon season.
The 1974 Hunza Earthquake – Occurring in the northern areas of Pakistan, mainly Hunza, Swat, and Hazara on the 28th of December,1974, the earthquake that was estimated to have reached 6.2 on the Richter Scale wreaked havoc, followed by landslides and rockfalls that only contributed to the mass damage. Reports estimate that about 5,300 people were killed, over 17,000 people were severely injured and about 97,000 were adversely affected.
The Floods of 2000 – this catastrophe hit the entirety of Pakistan affecting over 20 million lives in its wake. The destruction was declared to have been so substantial that the nation was unable to cope with the loses and damages on its own, and is said to have asked for international aid to help the people suffering. Over 2,000 people lost their lives to this series of floods.
The Dreadful and Harrowing Kashmir Quake – This earthquake occurred on the 8th of October, 2005. One of the worst earthquakes to ever have hit South Asia, it centered in Muzaffarabad and went on its way to affect Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and crossed borders into Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India, and Xinjiang, where tremors were reported to have been felt by the public.
The quake registered a moment magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale but is said to have an intensity of VIII (severe) and XI (extreme), on the Mercalli Intensity Scale. This disastrous phenomenon consumed the lives of over 86,000 people, and more than this amount were injured, including millions, displaced. According to Wikipedia, it is considered to be the deadliest earthquake that has ever struck this side of Asia.
Disaster Relief Organizations and NGO’s
Several disaster relief initiatives were taken, and are being taken by the government and non-governmental organizations all over Pakistan. These work with the United Nations or rely on donations nationally and internationally to help those in need when disasters strike. Some of the most well-known ones include:
- Edhi Foundation
- International Rescue Committee (IRC)
- ACTED (A UK based aid program)
- UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
These, and countless others, are working tirelessly to provide help to those in need with first aid medical services, shelter, food, clothing, etc. However, since many of these rely solely on donations and volunteering, sometimes, they are not able to provide the level of help that is required or are not able to reach all the affected areas. Regardless, the limitations do not mar the herculean efforts and strength that are required to work in affected areas.
Taking an initiative to help those in need is how humanity can survive in this world of human beings.
