Peerzada Sayeed
Karnah, October 8: October 8, 2005, remains one of the darkest chapters in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly for the border area of Karnah. Twenty-one years have passed since that devastating earthquake, but the memories of the tragedy remain alive in the hearts of families across Karnah with the same intensity. Those few moments not only destroyed buildings but also shattered families, took away loved ones and buried generations of memories beneath the rubble.
At around 9:25 a.m. on October 8, 2005, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Pakistan and large parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Its violent tremors shook mountains, valleys, villages and cities, causing destruction on a scale rarely witnessed in the region.
For Karnah, a remote and mountainous border area, the impact was particularly devastating. Within moments, houses collapsed, roads were damaged, landslides occurred and hundreds of families lost their loved ones. At a time when communication networks were limited, reaching affected villages with immediate rescue, relief and medical assistance was itself a major challenge.
According to local accounts, the devastating earthquake claimed 311 lives in Karnah, while around 1,800 people were injured. Even today, four people are reportedly missing, leaving their families with unanswered questions and an enduring sense of loss.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Karnah was engulfed in fear, uncertainty and mourning. People remained outside their damaged homes under the open sky, desperately trying to find out whether their loved ones were safe. In several places, rescue efforts continued to pull people trapped beneath the rubble, while families moved from one place to another in search of relatives.
Speaking to our correspondent , Civil Society Chairman Peerzada Siraj-ud-Din Qureshi recalled the devastation caused by the earthquake and highlighted the support extended by the Indian Army to the affected population of Karnah. He said that the Indian Army played an important role in supporting people during the critical period following the disaster. Despite damaged roads, difficult mountainous terrain and limited communication facilities, Army personnel extended assistance in relief and rescue operations and helped provide medical support to the injured.
The medical assistance provided during those difficult hours was particularly important for the thousands of people who had sustained injuries. The support extended by the Indian Army helped ensure that many injured people could receive treatment and medical care at a time when local resources were under immense pressure. For the people of Karnah, the assistance provided during those difficult days remains an important part of their collective memory.
The October 8 earthquake was not merely a natural disaster; it profoundly affected the social, economic and human life of the entire region. Across Pakistan and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, while millions were injured or displaced. The earthquake struck in the morning, when children were attending schools, and the collapse of school buildings resulted in the deaths of many children, leaving families with grief that is almost impossible to put into words.
Homes, schools, roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Thousands of families were left homeless and were forced to depend on temporary shelters and humanitarian assistance, particularly as winter approached.
For the people of Karnah, October 8 is not merely a date on the calendar. It has become a deeply personal memory and a painful chapter in the stories of countless families. Some lost their fathers, some their mothers, brothers or sisters, while many children were permanently deprived of their parents and other family members.
For some families, their homes were completely destroyed, leaving little behind. Many people spent days searching for their loved ones, while numerous families, after burying their relatives, were left to face a silence that can still be felt in their homes even today.
The tragedy also demonstrated the strength and resilience of the people of Karnah. Local residents, volunteers, civil administration, relief agencies and the Indian Army came together to support survivors and assist in rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Despite difficult terrain, damaged roads and severe conditions, people continued searching for survivors and helping one another.
Twenty-one years after the tragedy, remembering the earthquake is not only about revisiting the pain of the past; it is also about learning lessons for the future. Earthquakes do not come with a warning. Therefore, in mountainous and earthquake-prone areas such as Karnah, there is an urgent need for earthquake-resistant construction, safer schools, trained local volunteers, modern rescue equipment, adequate medical facilities, ambulance services and reliable emergency communication systems.
The experience of 2005 demonstrated how critical rapid rescue and medical response can be in remote and geographically challenging areas. Timely assistance, coordinated rescue operations and accessible medical treatment can save precious lives when disaster strikes.
Today, as the victims of the October 8, 2005 earthquake are remembered, the mountains of Karnah may remain silent, but the memories of those who disappeared beneath the rubble remain deeply embedded in the hearts of the people living in these valleys.
The earthquake took hundreds of lives, injured thousands and left families searching for their loved ones. Yet it also demonstrated the importance of humanity, unity, compassion and timely assistance during the most difficult moments.
May Almighty Allah forgive all those who lost their lives in the October 8, 2005 earthquake, elevate their ranks, fill their graves with light and grant patience and strength to their bereaved families. Ameen.
Some tragedies do not grow old with time. They become part of history and return before us every year. October 8, 2005, is one such day—a day that Karnah can never forget.
