Candlelight Vigil in Dharamshala for Nakchu Earthquake Victims
Hundreds of Tibetans in McLeodganj gather for a candlelight vigil to mourn victims of the devastating Nakchu earthquake in Tibet.
Hundreds of Tibetans gathered in McLeodganj, Dharamshala, to hold a poignant candlelight vigil for the victims of a devastating earthquake that struck the Nakchu region of Tibet. Organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the event saw participants marching with candles to express their deep condolences and stand in solidarity with the families affected by the tragedy.
A Community in Mourning
The vigil served as a collective expression of grief and prayer. Tsering Chomphel, the president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, stated that the gathering was intended to honour those who lost their lives and to support their "Tibetan brothers and sisters" in the Kham region and Nakchu.
Concerns regarding the scale of the tragedy were central to the event. While initial reports indicated 16 deaths, subsequent updates suggested the toll had risen to more than 20 people. In addition to the loss of life, many individuals were injured, and several villages saw their livelihoods destroyed.
Allegations of Environmental Negligence
Beyond the immediate grief, the vigil became a platform to highlight the environmental state of the Tibetan plateau. Tsering Chomphel alleged that the vulnerability of the region to such natural disasters has been exacerbated by the activities of the Chinese government.
He specifically pointed toward mining and the construction of dams, arguing that such industrial activities have degraded Tibet's fragile ecosystem, leading to consequences that extend far beyond the immediate area.
Questions Over Official Data
Gompo Dhondup, a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, echoed these sentiments while raising alarms about the lack of transparent information coming from the region.
"This is very unfortunate. There is a tragic earthquake in the Nakchu region, and the information is all censored. We are relying on the information released by the Chinese state," Dhondup remarked.
Dhondup questioned whether the official casualty figures were accurate or complete, suggesting that the actual death toll could be significantly higher than what has been disclosed. He held the Chinese government accountable for the environmental destruction carried out over the last six decades, which he believes has contributed to the region's instability.
The Seismic Impact
The tragedy follows a series of seismic events in the region. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Tibet, followed by another magnitude 4.1 quake on Friday afternoon.
The NCS reported that the second tremor occurred at 14:03:19 IST at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at Latitude 32.402 North and Longitude 93.675 East.
Damage and Casualties
Reports from Xinhua provided a glimpse into the devastation on the ground. As of 2:25 am local time, the reports indicated:
- Fatalities: At least 16 people dead.
- Injuries: 32 people injured, with 11 in serious condition and 21 sustaining minor injuries.
- Infrastructure: More than 300 houses collapsed in the affected region.