QUETTA: History

On 31st May 1935 at 3.40 am in the early morning the city of Quetta and the countryside for 100 miles to the south-west including the town of Khelat were devastated by a severe earthquake which lasted three minutes. There was another severe shock on 2nd June,Killed about 30000 to 60000 peopls. An official Government communique issued on that day from Simla stated: “1. The whole city of Quetta is destroyed and being sealed under military guard from 2nd June with medical advice. It is estimated that 20,000 corpses remain buried under the debris. There is no hope of rescuing any more persons alive. The corpses extracted and buried number several thousand. There are about 10,000 Indian survivors including 4,000 injured. 2. All houses in the civil area are razed to the ground except Government House, which is partially standing but in ruins. The church and club are both in ruins, also the Murree Brewery. 3. One quarter of the cantonment area is destroyed, the remaining three quarters slightly damaged, but inhabitable. Most of the damage was done in the RAF area where the barracks were destroyed, and only six out of the twenty-seven machines are serviceable. 4. The railway area is destroyed. 5. Hanna Road and the Staff College are undamaged. 6. Surrounding villages are destroyed with; it is feared, very heavy casualties. The number is not yet ascertainable. Military parties are being sent out to investigate and render help. 7. Outlying districts, as already reported from Khelat and Mastung, are reported to have been razed to the ground with heavy casualties. All the villages between Quetta and Khelat are also reported to have been destroyed”. A local newspaper headline announced “Terrible Disaster in Quetta - Staff College unharmed.