The pictures in this gallery speak volumes about the total devastation that has befallen on some parts of Ziarat district. Not only these pictures show sufferings of those who have been directly affected by this calamity but also visible therein is the underdevelopment of the region and the nature of the houses which could not and did not stand the shaking power of a moderate to strong earthquake and, an earthquake with the magnitude of 6.4 was too strong for these houses to resist! The authorities and the communities who find themselves in a similar situation in Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan will need to rethink about this issue. People in the region cannot afford to build earthquake resistant expensive houses that we do see in Quetta - though not all of them are resistant. In any case, some genuine and serious measures should be taken to minimize future death toll; many lives can really be saved if we act now!

P.s: could someone please let me know the names of the localities that you see in these pictures. Any help will be highly appreciated. Khadim