You Make Me Proud!

Wednesday, July28, 2010 shall be remembered for a rather tragic reason in the history. Loss of lives, innocent lives, hardly leaves any human unshaken. 

152 people lost their lives and left hundreds grieving behind them, and many many more affected by this sudden tragedy. Inna-lillah-e-wa-inna-ilehi-raa'jai'oon.

However, there is one thing that emerged out very prominent as the smoke began to fizzle in the showers at the Margalla Hills - human resilience and compassion. I kept thinking of what someone has so rightly said, "its in the best of times that the worst of people are found; and its in the worst of times that best people are seen." Yesterday, was indeed a very unfortunate day, most tragic for all who value life, yet, it witnessed many unknown sons who were the best in that worst of the times .....

When I heard from a friend in Islamabad that people are scrambling up the margalla hills helping in rescue with bare hands, I did not rather notice it. The impact of the crash was so strong. However, as the sun sank behind the peaks of this hilly region and the rain poured ever harder, those people participating in the rescue operation to look and save anything even remotely to life in that wreckage  strewn over about a third of a square mile of the forested slopes, became more and more important.  

The News reported:

"

Volunteers provided significant support to rescue teams working under highly unfavourable conditions after a tragic air crash at Margalla Hills.

Hundreds of people swiftly rushed towards the crash site despite the fact that there was no proper way and everyone had to make way through thick bushes up to peak of the mountain.

Teams of young medical students and doctors reached the spot to provide first aid after the air crash but they felt disappointed, as all passengers were found dead.

“As soon as we heard about the air crash we reached near the mountain and walked up to the sight of incident. But, unfortunately, no one was alive and we found only parts of dead bodies scattered all around there,” said Hasan and Amir of Shifa College of Medicine who were there at the sight of crash.

Inmates of nearby villages who were the first to reach the spot made a trail with the help of blades and cutters that helped rescue teams to reach up to the mountain.

These villagers, who were dozens in number, extended support to bring lightweight equipment and other necessary material to the top of the mountain.

“We heard a big explosion and saw dense smoke clouds in the mountain after which we tried to reach the sight. There was no access to the mountain so we swiftly took small cutters and in the span of half an hour we made a trail from road to the incident sight,” said Moeen, a villager who were totally soaked after spending many hours in rescue activities.

The volunteers were also reaching from two other undeveloped tracks — one from monkey spot and other from a nearby village — and collected body parts of unfortunate passengers along with rescue workers.

When security officials stopped entry of motor vehicles into the area the volunteers travelled on foot during rain even from the Islamabad Zoo.

The people parked their motor vehicles on road sides on 7th Avenue and Margalla Road and continued their walk just to provide help to the rescue teams.

A large number of fire brigade vehicles were also there but there was no use of them as the incident spot was far away from their access.

Islamabad Traffic Police made hectic efforts to ensure smooth flow of ambulances and fire brigade vehicles from Margalla Road to the sight of incident.

"

Many channels reported the grieving relatives of the victims rendering support to the authorities by joining the emergency teams at the scene of Pakistan's worst-ever plane crash.

I felt numb.... yet blessed. May Allah keep the spirits of this nation high. 

Hats off to the compassion and spirits of our countrymen. 

Hail Pakistanis. You make me proud!