In 2005 a major earthquake occurred in Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) and in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). It registered 7.7 on the Richter scale making it similar in intensity to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
The government of Pakistan’s official death toll was 79,000, while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir).
Khalsa Aid relief teams led by the founder and current CEO, Ravi Singh visited Balakot, a small town which experienced significant damage and required immediate support in rescuing people in the rubble which was provided alongside local Government and international NGOs.
Khalsa Aid teams also provided sanitation facilities in camps around the local area. The immediate priority was to stop disease spreading through lack of sanitation. Toilets, washrooms and cleaning facilities were built for the local town.
A neighbouring Sikh community from Lahore also provided support by cooking food daily for hundreds in Muzafrabad. Khalsa Aid provided ingredients and fresh fruit for this community kitchen.
