Saturday, October 8 2005 19:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: At least 180 people, including 21 army personnel, were killed and over 600 injured in the massive earthquake that rocked Jammu and Kashmir today (Oct 8, 2005).

As per preliminary reports pouring in from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, 157 people were killed and over 600 others injured in the quake so far, Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya told reporters here.

He said the figure excludes the casualties suffered by the security forces.

Defence sources said 21 soldiers were killed and scores of others injured when the bunker buildings along the LoC collapsed under the impact of the quake.

The Chief Secretary said the casualty figures may go up as reports were pouring in from far flung areas. According to unconfirmed reports, the number of killed is around 250.

Bakaya said while 142 people were killed and 550 injured in Kashmir, 15 people died in Jammu region, where 51 others were injured.

Baramulla district of North Kashmir was the worst-hit with 116 deaths. Out of these 104 deaths were reported from border township of Uri where 80 per cent houses have been damaged. At least 125 people were also injured in Baramulla district, the Chief Secretary said.

He said Tangdhar near the LoC in Kupwara district accounted for 25 deaths and 125 injured, including eight critically.

Eight persons were killed in Poonch district and four in Udhampur district, Bakaya said, adding, three persons were killed and 123 others injured in Srinagar. In Kupwara district one person was killed and 118 others injured.

On the relief and rescue operations, Bakaya said police and paramilitary forces have been fanned out in different areas to assist the people.

Army has already pressed into service its men and machines to help the people in removing the debris. They have also set up medical camps to attend to the injured civilians.

Bakaya said officials at the Centre were in constant touch with the authorities here and have assured all possible help to the victims of the natural calamity.

He said Air Force helicopters have been kept in readiness to carryout rescue missions.

Almost all the critically injured persons have been evacuated to Srinagar, he said. However, due to closure of some roads in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, the injured there could not be immediately evacuated to hospital.

He said authorities are sending teams of doctors to treat the injured persons in Tangdhar sector who could not be evacuated to hospital in view of closure of the main road due to landslides triggered by the quake.

The blockades on Srinagar-Kupwara and Baramulla-Uri roads have been removed and efforts are on to shift the injured to Srinagar for treatment, he said.

So far 510 houses have collapsed in the state due to the tremor, mostly in North Kashmir districts of Baramulla and Kupwara.

However, there was no damage in Badgam and Pulwama districts. Four houses have collapsed in Anantnag district.

Bakaya said power and water supply to 80 per cent areas of Srinagar has been restored and efforts are on to restore the same in other affected districts of the state.