Pakistan & India: Some Amateur Radio Activity Reported In Earthquake's Aftermath

Some Amateur Radio emergency and health-and-welfare communication has been reported in the aftermath of a severe and deadly earthquake that struck the Kashmir region of Pakistan. Parts of India and Afghanistan also were affected. Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR, says he has been in contact with Bharati Prasad, VU2RBI, who informed him that there is no Indian Amateur Radio operation involved in the earthquake response, due to security concerns. "There has been some ham disaster communication from Pakistan, which has borne the major brunt of the quake," Majumdar said. Hams from Turkey reportedly are in Pakistan to assist in relief operations. VU2RBI reported Pakistani hams have been relaying some earthquake-related traffic, but no Amateur Radio stations have been established in the hardest-hit areas, some of which are in very remote areas with difficult access. "Some earthquake traffic has been monitored on 7.100 MHz," Majumdar reports, adding that AP2NK and AP2MIZ are involved in the operations. A Pakistan disaster relief net reportedly has been meeting daily at 1130 UTC on 14.290 MHz. The net control is AP2MIZ, and a clear frequency has been requested. Steve Richards, G4HPE, reports a "tenuous" communication route has been established into the earthquake zone, using EchoLink to Delhi, then HF to near Pakistan, followed by HF relay links to Turkish and Pakistani relief workers with ham stations. Richards has offered to pass along any health-and-welfare inquiries and will process any responses. The International Committee of the Red Cross has established a link for locating missing persons .

Source: The ARRL Letter, Vol. 24, No. 41