The Mountain Tsunami: Afterthoughts on the Kashmir Earthquake

This paper focuses on lessons learned from the disaster response to the Kashmir earthquake of 8 October 2005. It explores the factors that created a vulnerable environment for the creation of a catastrophe through Alexander's six-point typology of disaster vulnerability. The review of the disaster response will focus on the reasons behind chaotic relief assistance provision and poor sustenance of populations in winter conditions, as well as exploring the framework of international response, and the role of the army, voluntarism and co-ordination issues. Having reviewed the relief response, based on cross-cultural experiences, the paper then makes projections on possible challenges and issues that may emerge in the reconstruction process.