Sunday, October 9 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan army has suffered heavy casualties in the devastating earthquake, which left 215 of its soldiers posted in POK dead and 424 others injured there.

The 215 dead included seven officers, defence spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan told the media here today (Oct 9, 2005). The number of the injured soldiers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was 424.

Pakistan Army has a large number of troops deployed in POK along the LoC and most of them were killed in collapse of bunkers, which caved in under the impact of yesterday's quake measuring 7.6 on Richter scale, according to media reports.

The death toll for both the civilians and army could rise when rescue teams reach the remote areas, which have not been accessed so far.

Sultan said as per the preliminary assessment, POK was the worst hit in the region followed by Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab.

The biggest problem being faced by Pakistan government in conducting the relief operations was clearance of roads blocked by the landslides following the quake.

The access road connecting Pakistan with POK was blocked in several places, forcing army to conduct all relief operations only by helicopters, Sultan said.

The main task for the officials organizing relief was to send food, medical supplies as well as tents to POK and other areas

The hailstorm that hit Islamabad and other areas also disturbed the relief operations last night.

Meanwhile, 'The News' daily reported that 350 school children, including 250 girls, were virtually buried alive in a school building collapse in Mansehra in NWFP when the quake rocked Pakistan and POK.