Islamabad, Feb 15: At least 22 people were killed and several others injured in the earthquake that hit northern Pakistan yesterday. ''Some 22 people have died, including ten in a passenger van when it was caught in a landslide in the northern town of Batgram,'' Brigadier Javed Cheema, head of the ministry's national crisis management cell, was quoted as saying in the media.

Batgram is 120 km north of Islamabad.

The Pakistan government has launched a massive operation to provide relief to the families affected by the quake that recorded 5.7 on the Ritcher scale.
Officials said doctors and police teams had been despatched to aid in rescue operations.

Arrangements are being made to provide tents and blankets to those rendered homeless.


Bureau Report