PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakthunkhwa has yet to recover from the devastation of Oct 26 earthquake but international community might also go into shock if it sees the cracks caused by the tremor to the two World Heritage Sites of Takht Bhai and Julian besides other sites including museums and artifacts of Gandhara Civilisation.

“Yes, earthquake has caused a lot of damage to the sites and artifacts. After assessment, we would be soon compiling a complete report about it,” said Dr Abdul Samad, archaeologist and director archeology and museums of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The earthquake, which hit Afghanistan and Pakistan, especially the region having rich archaeological heritage, has caused losses of lives and properties. The government is assessing damages and a compensation for life and property has been announced but so far international community, which shares ownership of the rich archaeological heritage of the province having two World Heritage Sites, has yet to reach out and show support to the archaeology department of the province.

“In Takht Bhai a wall has collapsed and cracks in structure are visible now,” said the official while talking about the damage caused to a Unesco’s World Heritage Site in Mardan district.

Museums in Peshawar, Chitral, Dir and Swat also affected by the tremor

“The inner chamber has developed cracks in the earthquake. The big wall of the main assembly hall has leaned on one side,” eyewitnesses said.

Jamal Garhi, a Buddhist site, which was on tentative list of World Heritage, was the worst affected as the walls had collapsed, Dr Samad said. Sharing initial reports of the damage compiled by the archaeology department staff, he said that teams were sent to the sties to assess the damage immediately after the earthquake.

The site of Jamal Garhi, discovered by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1848, is located near the village Jamal Garhi in district Mardan.

An eyewitness said that Jamal Ghari was a big site and many of the walls leaned on one side due to powerful tremor. He feared that another earthquake, torrential rains or even a storm could cause more damage to those structures if not protected timely.

Another World Heritage site in Khanpur, named Julian, is also affected by the earthquake. The tremor has damaged a wall of the main monastery and chapel at Julian.

“I know the damages are huge and even government won’t be able to repair and save these sites on its own if it wants to do so,” Dr Samad said, adding how little was spent on archaeology and how little it would be on priority of the government when there were still people without homes and schools after the earthquake.

Chitral Museum was also affected by the earthquake as its showcases fell down and antiques were broken. One of its walls also collapsed. The walls of Dir and Swat museums also developed cracks and the showcases got broken.

“In historic Peshawar Museum, a gallery has been affected by the tremor,” said Dr Samad. Peshawar Museum, having a rich and rare collection of Gandhara Civilisation, has been established in an old British-era Victorian style building.

Dr Samad said that most of the objects were damaged due to breakage of showcases where walls of the archaeological sites developed cracks.

Despite having rich archeological sites and artifacts including rare statues of Buddha, there is no earth resistant museum or gallery in the province.

“By the time the government allocates funds for repair of the earthquake damaged sites, it would be too late,” said Dr Samad.

Gor Khattree, another important site in the middle of Peshawar City, has also been damaged.

The upper portion of the beautiful Sethi House, bought and rehabilitated by the provincial government, has also been damaged by the earthquake.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2015

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