Mirpur prepares to observe National Disaster Awareness Day, commemorate 2005 quake victims :

MIRPUR : The Mirpur district administration has finalized arrangements for a series of programmes on October 8 to commemorate the victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake and mark National Disaster Awareness Day, with a special walk and public awareness activities planned across the district on Thursday – October  8, it was officially said.

Authorities told  this Correspondent here on Wednesday that the programmes will pay tribute to the earthquake victims while raising public awareness about disaster preparedness, precautionary measures and effective response to emergency situations.

A special walk will be held on October 8 at 7:00 a.m. from Chowk Shaheedan to Quaid-e-Azam Stadium, Mirpur. Students and teachers of educational institutions, officers and officials of government departments, members of civil society and the general public will participate in the walk. A special prayer will be offered at the conclusion of the walk for the departed souls of the earthquake victims.

Meanwhile, banners, panaflexes and hoardings carrying messages about disaster preparedness and precautionary measures have been displayed at important and busy locations as well as entry and exit points of Mirpur district to raise public awareness on the occasion of National Disaster Awareness Day.

All active non-governmental organizations and welfare institutions in the district have also been directed to undertake special public awareness activities.

Besides, a special ceremony marking the 21st anniversary of the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) will be held on October 8 at the KORT Educational Complex, Akhtarabad, Jatlan Road, Mirpur.

The ceremony will also pay tribute to the victims of the October 8, 2005 earthquake.

The devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake caused widespread destruction in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country, leaving thousands of people dead and injured and destroying a large number of homes, educational institutions, government buildings and other properties.

 Twenty-one years on, memories of the tragedy remain fresh, with the earthquake victims continuing to be remembered and paid tribute.