Afghanistan Quake Tragedy: PM Modi Offers Aid, Condolences

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan, as the confirmed death toll climbed to 812. He also conveyed India’s readiness to extend humanitarian support to the disaster-hit nation.

Taking to social media platform X, Modi wrote that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan.” He added that India’s thoughts were with the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. “India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected,” his message read.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed concern earlier in the day, underlining India’s willingness to assist. “India will extend assistance in this hour of need. Our condolences to the families of the victims. And our prayers for early recovery of the injured,” he said.

The powerful quake struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar Province late on Sunday, with the United States Geological Survey recording its magnitude at 6.0 and its depth at eight kilometres. The tremor occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time, sending shockwaves across mountainous terrain prone to landslides, further complicating rescue and relief operations.

Authorities and rescue teams are still assessing the extent of the devastation, as many affected areas remain difficult to access due to poor infrastructure and limited communication. Afghan officials have cautioned that the current toll is only preliminary and may rise further as search and rescue efforts continue.

Afghanistan’s location along the fault line where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet makes it especially vulnerable to seismic activity. Over the past decade alone, earthquakes have killed more than 7,000 people in the country, with an annual average of about 560 deaths, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The country has faced several major earthquakes in recent years. In October 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake in the western region, followed by strong aftershocks, killed more than 4,000 people in what became one of the deadliest natural disasters in Afghanistan’s recent history. Similarly, in May 1998, tremors in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces destroyed nearly 100 villages, killing about 4,000 and leaving 45,000 homeless.

This latest tragedy adds to the suffering of a nation already battling economic hardships, fragile infrastructure, and limited healthcare capacity. Humanitarian agencies warn that the mountainous geography, combined with political and logistical challenges, makes swift aid delivery particularly difficult.

India has been one of the regional actors consistently extending support to Afghanistan during natural disasters. With the government in New Delhi reiterating its willingness to send relief, attention now turns to how quickly aid corridors can be established in coordination with local authorities.

As rescue operations continue, international organisations are expected to step up assistance. For Afghanistan’s people, long accustomed to the harsh reality of earthquakes, this disaster serves as yet another grim reminder of the country’s vulnerability to natural calamities.