BALAKOT: Twenty-one years after the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005, survivors in Balakot continue to wait for the homes the government promised them. The 21st anniversary of the disaster will be observed across the country, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with prayers and remembrance for the victims.
For the people of Balakot, the epicentre of the disaster, the anniversary still evokes painful memories and unfulfilled dreams.
The morning everything changed
At 8.52am on October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region, turning thriving valleys into scenes of devastation within minutes. More than 86,000 people were killed, while millions were displaced and thousands suffered permanent disabilities.
Balakot, designated a red zone because of the scale of destruction, bore the brunt of the disaster. Thousands of children died when school buildings collapsed, and hardly any family remained untouched by the tragedy. Twenty-one years later, the memories remain vivid for survivors who continue to mourn their loved ones. Every October 8 brings back memories of children, parents and siblings who were buried under the rubble.
2005 earthquake victims: the unfulfilled promise of New Balakot City
Soon after the earthquake, the government announced the construction of New Balakot City at Bakrial as an alternative settlement for residents of the devastated city. The project was intended to provide earthquake survivors with safe and modern housing, built to standards that could withstand future shocks.
However, despite the passage of 21 years, the New Balakot City project remains incomplete. Many affected families are still waiting for the promised settlement, caught between the red zone they were told to leave and the new city that never fully materialised.
Schools and clinics still waiting
The housing shortfall is not the only gap. Despite government and international assistance, dozens of schools and basic health facilities in Balakot and surrounding areas also remain incomplete or non-functional. For a region where collapsing school buildings caused some of the heaviest losses in 2005, the unfinished reconstruction of educational infrastructure carries a particular weight for survivors.
FAQs
When did the 2005 earthquake strike?
The earthquake struck at 8.52am on October 8, 2005. It measured 7.6 in magnitude, with its epicentre near Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
How many people died in the 2005 earthquake?
More than 86,000 people were killed. Millions were displaced and thousands suffered permanent disabilities. Balakot, designated a red zone, suffered the worst destruction.
What was New Balakot City?
New Balakot City was a government-announced project at Bakrial intended as an alternative settlement for residents of the devastated city of Balakot, offering survivors safe and modern housing. Twenty-one years later, the project remains incomplete.
Why are survivors still waiting for homes?
The New Balakot City project has not been completed despite the passage of 21 years since its announcement, leaving many affected families without the promised settlement.
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Originally reported by Tezkhabar (APP).
