khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
Thirty seconds at Quetta is a book for anyone who is from Quetta or is interested in its history; most importantly it’s about the aftermath of the deadly earthquake of May 31st 1935 that razed Quetta and other earthquake stricken areas to the ground, killing between 30 and 60 thousand people and injuring thousands more. Never has this devastation been more vividly told than in this riveting, movingly fascinating book. It is also about a sub-chapter in the history of British colonial rule - a time when a large community of Indian migrants were living in Quetta! Furthermore, it highlights the historical setting of British military and civilian bureaucracy that was running the affairs of the region from its administrative seat in Quetta. Continue reading ‘Thirty Seconds at Quetta: a belated book review!’
khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
Today is May 31st, which is the day when 74 years ago in 1935 Quetta was razed to the ground by a destructive earthquake. Though some Quetta based newspapers put out special editions on this occasion and rarely a seminar or two are held as well, often in the city’s only posh hotel or, since late, the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has been organising special programmes at its premises. In any event, the number of people who attend such seminars/programmes is very limited while the general public find out about the taking place of such events only through the next day’s newspapers. Other than that, at the provincial government level, not enough is being done or special campaigns run to involve more and more people so that the general public not only learns what happened 74 years ago but also get the opportunity to learn about how to get prepared and be ready to cope in case ‘The Big One’ strikes! Let’s not forget Quetta lies in an active earthquake zone.
To find out more about 1935 Quetta Earthquake, please click here
To view photos of Quetta of pre-1935 Earthquake and of a Quetta destroyed by the earthquake, please click here
khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
Download PDF here (for better quality figures)
In the recent past the geological and geomorphological features of Pakistan have been extensively mapped and photographed, in the field and with the help of planes and satellites, giving us an accurate picture of the landform. When carefully scrutinized, these aerial photographs and the resulting relief maps reveal, one or two, interesting ‘creature like features’. At least that is what I have observed and I thought it would be interesting if I could delineate ‘the creature(s)’ and share it (them) with others, in particular with the first year degree course students of geology. The idea behind these figures is to help students familiarize themselves with the main geological features who can then look at them in the regional context, that is, with respect to the geology of the neighbouring countries in order to find and complete the missing parts.
Continue reading ‘The Geo-Saurus & Geo-Monster: a new approach to remembering the geological and geomorphic features of Pakistan!’
khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
Every year May the 18th is observed as the World Museum Day and surely today the museums from around the world are actively celebrating this day, raising awareness and consciousness on the role of museums in their respective socities and the importance and the need for preserving our global heritage. Continue reading ‘The World Museum Day and the ‘Quetta Museum’.’
khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
Afghanistan is one of those unfortunate countries where war-like situation still prevails, where a previous super invader has been replaced by a new super one. Thirty years on, there is no end to the bloodletting. Over the last three decades millions of Afghans have been displaced both externally and internally. What is peculiar and painful about the Afghan Diaspora is that there is a very large number of Afghans who are known to be missing. Continue reading ‘The missing Afghans: victims of an unfinished war!’
khAdim DuRRani Quettawaal
On the evening of April 4 2009 about 45 people were found dead, near Quetta, in a large container that was carrying 110 Afghans who intended to enter Iran via Pakistan; they were put on the container at Spin Boldak, an Afghan border town between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the door was locked from outside. Continue reading ‘Quetta: the tragic deaths in a container’
khAdim duRRani Quettawaal
As a result of lawyers’ long drawn tireless movement, and last week’s final push in the form of a long march by some of the political parties, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mohammed Iftikhar Chaudhry has finally been reinstated; according to a news reports he resumed his judicial responsibilities with effect from 22nd March 2008 (Today). Continue reading ‘Reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan’
Surface rupture near Zardaaloo (Shahrigh) in the Ghazij Formation.
Din Mohammed Kakar
The following report is not an exhaustive and conclusive one; many technical details have been withheld to keep it simple and readable. However, the usage of geological terminology was not totally avoidable. Moreover, data gathered during the field trips, subsequent to the October earthquake, will be published in a relevant scientific journal at an appropriate time. Continue reading ‘Ziarat Earthquake, October 2008: a preliminary report’
When I was writing about 1935’s Quetta Earthquake (posted on October 27 last month), during my research for the relevant material I came to know about Dr. Henry Holland, about his role and contribution before and after the earthquake. Though I had already read Robert Jackson’s (1960) ‘Thirty seconds at Quetta‘ but the information relating to Dr Holland was not sufficient enough for me to write something of an interest therefore I thought I should mention him and his work in passing in the article. Continue reading ‘The Quetta Earthquake by Dr Henry Holland’
KhAdim DuRRani Quettawaal
According to media reports the Meteorological Department says it has recorded 967 aftershocks. Though the earth continues to shake but not as violently as it did in the form of aftershocks in the first 72 hours. The reports also say people in the affected areas can’t stay inside because their houses have been destroyed and those which seem to be standing are no longer safe enough and need to be demolished. Continue reading ‘Ziarat Eartquake: camping & trembling in the cold!’
Following are the links that will lead you to various media reports regarding Ziarat earthquake. For the time being I have included links up to November 5, but later on I will add only important news items dealing with the Ziarat disaster. Continue reading ‘Ziarat Eartquake: links to media reports’
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