Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday expressed deep concern over the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan’s Kunar province that has killed more than 600 people, with PM Modi assuring that India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult hour, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Jaishankar too expressed solidarity with the Afghan people, saying India will extend assistance in this hour of need. “The devastating earthquake in Kunar Province of Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. Express our support and solidarity to the Afghan people as they respond to it,” he said on X.
According to state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA), the death toll has climbed to 800, with over 2800 others injured. Rescue teams are facing challenges in reaching remote areas due to difficult terrain and limited communication, officials said.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck eastern Afghanistan late on August 31, with its epicentre located 27 km deep in Kunar province, the US Geological Survey said.
Afghanistan, located on multiple seismic fault lines, remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes. A series of quakes in western Afghanistan last year killed more than 1,000 people, underscoring the fragility of one of the world’s poorest nations in coping with natural disasters.
(With agency inputs)