New Delhi, September 2(HS): In the wake of a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan, India has swiftly extended crucial humanitarian assistance to the affected nation, where over 800 lives have been lost and more than 2,800 injured. The earthquake's epicenter was located in the Kama district of Nangarhar province, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with the adjoining Kunar province enduring the gravest damage. The tremors, followed by several aftershocks measuring between 4 and 5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction, flattening villages constructed from mud and stone and triggering landslides that have obstructed rescue efforts.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the dispatch of 1,000 family tents to Kabul and 15 tonnes of essential food supplies transported from the Indian mission in Kabul to Kunar. Trucks carrying additional aid were observed en route to the hardest-hit areas as India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed condolences and emphasized India’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan during this crisis. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with the victims and affirmed India’s readiness to provide further humanitarian relief.
The Afghanistan Taliban administration reported extensive casualties mainly in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Nuristan provinces, with rescue operations complicated by disrupted communications and blocked mountain roads. International organizations, including the United Nations, are actively providing emergency assistance, while regional neighbors like Pakistan have also expressed support and called for cross-border aid efforts.
This catastrophe compounds Afghanistan’s existing humanitarian challenges amid shrinking international aid and ongoing political instability. India’s proactive response highlights its regional solidarity and commitment to aiding Afghanistan in this dire hour. Rescue efforts continue as hope dims for survivors buried beneath the rubble, underscoring the urgent need for sustained auxiliary support.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
