India Stands Ready To Help: PM Modi Condoles Afghan Earthquake Victims

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, where the death toll has climbed to 812, and assured India’s readiness to provide humanitarian assistance.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult hour, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected.”

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also voiced concern over the disaster in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province, noting that more than 812 lives had been lost.

“India will extend assistance in this hour of need. Our condolences to the families of the victims. And our prayers for early recovery of the injured,” he stated.

Rescue operations remain underway in remote areas with poor connectivity, making it difficult to fully assess the destruction, officials said.

They added that the toll is likely to rise as search and relief efforts continue.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake, measuring 6.0 in magnitude, struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday at 11:47 PM local time, with its epicentre at a depth of eight kilometres.

Afghanistan, lying on multiple fault lines between the Indian and Eurasian plates, is highly prone to earthquakes.

The mountainous terrain in the east also makes rescue operations more challenging due to frequent landslides.

Natural disasters have repeatedly caused severe loss of life in the country.

Last year, a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan killed over 1,000 people, one of the deadliest in recent decades.

On 7 October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake followed by strong aftershocks claimed at least 4,000 lives, according to the Taliban government, making it one of the deadliest tragedies in Afghanistan’s recent history.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has shared data on Afghanistan. Over the past 10 years, more than 7,000 people have died in earthquakes. This averages about 560 deaths every year.

In May 1998, a powerful quake struck Takhar and Badakhshan provinces. It killed nearly 4,000 people, destroyed around 100 villages and left 45,000 people homeless.

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