More than 800 killed, 2800 injured in devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, PM Modi offers help

New Delhi/Kabul, Sep 1 (UNI) At least 812 people were killed and 2800 injured in a devastating temblor that struck Eastern Afghanistan in the dead of night today.
The death toll reached 812 and more than 2,800 people were injured. The government has formed a special committee to coordinate the response and allocated 100 million Afghanis for immediate relief, Afghanistan government chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake and said India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to the affected people. “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,” the Prime Minister said on X.
The powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck eastern Afghanistan around midnight affecting four provinces, with the mountainous region of Kunar bearing the brunt. The earthquake triggered landslides and flooding complicating the situation.
In Kunar province’s Nurgal district (Mazar Dara), Chawkay, Watapur, Manogi, Chapa Dara and surrounding areas, 800 people have died and 2,500 were injured.
In Nangarhar’s Dara-i-Noor district, 12 people were killed and 255 injured.
Laghman’s Alingar district reported 58 injuries and Nuristan’s Nurgram district reported four injuries.
In Panjshir’s Abshar district, five houses were destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
Mujahid said that in Kunar province, many villages have been destroyed.
International bodies are delivering aid and assisting in rescue operations.
The temblor at 11:47 p.m. local time, was centred about 27 km east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The quake was followed by several aftershocks sending residents fleeing their homes again. Buildings shook as far away as Kabul and Islamabad, more than 350 km to the south.