Body of boy missing in deadly 2005 earthquake found after 21 years

The remains were discovered during reconstruction work at the family’s home. Workers clearing old debris found human remains buried beneath the rubble.

Jamal disappeared on October 8, 2005, when the powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing more than 80,000 people and destroying thousands of homes.

His father, Shafiq-ur-Rehman, lost eight family members in the disaster. However, the fate of his young son remained unknown for more than two decades. According to the family, the clothes and shoes found with the remains helped them identify the body as Jamal’s, bringing an end to years of uncertainty and grief.

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The 2005 earthquake remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in Pakistan’s history. Entire towns, including much of Balakot, were reduced to rubble, leaving thousands of families devastated.

For Jamal’s father, the discovery has brought a painful but long-awaited sense of closure after spending 21 years without knowing what had happened to his son. The heartbreaking discovery has once again reminded many people of the lasting pain caused by the 2005 earthquake and the emotional scars that many affected families continue to carry.