ALL QUETTA HOUSES RAZED TO GROUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 130, 4 June 1935, Page 7

ALL QUETTA HOUSES RAZED TO GROUND.

WAKE DISASTER.

British Dead May Number

Two Hundred.

20,000 NATIVES UNDER DEBRIS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12 noon.) RUGBY, June 3. The Quetta earthquake was the subject of a brief statement in the House of Commons by the Secretary for India, Sir Samuel Hoare. He deeply regretted to say that reports he had received of this appalling disaster fully bore out what had appeared in the Press.

He was grieved to state that the whole city of Quetta has been destroyed. All houses in the civil area have been razed to the ground, except Government House, which is partially standing. One quarter of the cantonment area is destroyed, and the remaining three quarters are slightly damaged. The bodies of about 4500 members of the Indian civil population have been recovered. It is feared that about 20,000 still remain buried in debris. The total of Indian casualties outside the city of Quetta is at present unknown. The total British deaths is about 200. The situation is well in hand, but as nearly all the subordinate police officers have been killed it has been necessary to ask for military assistance. The Western Command has assumed control of the situation and is rationing the population.

•Communications by rail and road are reported intact. The civil land telegraphic lino has been restored. In order to deal effectively with the situation the general officer commanding has been authorised to declare martial law in the city and the cantonment at his discretion. There is no truth in reports that Quetta is to be blown up and abandoned. Rescue work is continuing, and will be contin.ued wlwlst the least hope remains of survivors being beneath the debris. The liidi;'. Government, in a statement, places Ihe Quetta dead at 20,000, and expresses the view that 20,000 arc buried under the debris. Over 5000 bodies, it is stated, have been recovered. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the population in.outlying villages are dead or injured. All villages between Mastling and Beleli are completely destroyed. An area of 0:5 miles in Kalat State has been devastated, and one-third of the population of Kalat town perished. MORE 'QUAKE SHOCKS. Indian Death Roll Probably Totals 40,000. FAMOUS CRICKETER'S SISTER. ("Times " Cable.) (Received 1 p.m.) DELHI, June 3. It is unofficially estimated that the earthquake death roll will be 40,000. The dead include a sister of the Nawab of Pataudi, Indian ruling prince and famous cricketer. Further shocks to-day shook down tottering buildings in Quetta, and were felt in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Also the Chaman-Quetta railway line was destroyed.