Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu Kashmir: The bodies of two individuals were recovered nearly 20 years after the catastrophic 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Muzaffarabad on October 8, 2005. The discovery was made during excavation work at the site of a massive landslide in the Plate area of Muzaffarabad.
The recovery was made as workers cleared debris from a collapsed building that had been buried under a landslide triggered by the earthquake. According to local councilor Mahmood Beg, the building housed several students who were tragically trapped under the rubble when the earthquake struck. The identities of the recovered bodies are yet to be confirmed, and DNA testing will be conducted to hand over the remains to their families.
District administration officials have stated that there is a possibility of finding more bodies as excavation continues. As a precautionary measure, the digging has been temporarily halted to ensure a systematic and respectful recovery process.
Yasser Josh, a representative from the Disaster Management and Red Crescent Society, revealed that the Red Cross had buried numerous victims at this site in the aftermath of the earthquake. The recovery of these bodies has reopened old wounds for many residents who lost loved ones in the disaster.
The 2005 earthquake, which lasted only a few seconds, left a trail of destruction across Azad Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It claimed an estimated 88,000 lives, displaced over 3 million people, and reduced entire towns to rubble. The disaster remains one of the most devastating in the region’s history, with communities still grappling with its long-term impact.
As the 20th anniversary of the earthquake approaches, the recovery of these bodies serves as a somber reminder of the lives lost and the resilience of the survivors. The local community has expressed mixed emotions, with many calling for continued efforts to locate and honor the remaining victims.
Authorities have urged the public to remain patient as the excavation process continues, emphasizing the importance of handling the remains with dignity and respect.