We landed in Islamabad at 9.00pm. Met by Chaide our local producer we headed straight to the Margalla Towers which had collapsed. Neville being Indian can’t get a visa for Pakistan very easily at all. Part of their silly games.
As we drive into town from the airport there is a lightning storm to the east. Chiade doesn’t seen to think much of it. Good as rain would not help anyone at all.
Entering the recovery site people are hard at work. There is little space on the ground and not wanting to set up in anyones way I spot an army truck with another crew on the top. Gesticulating to see if I can come up I get a yes and clamper up. This in not an easy task. Huge step on to the wheel, then the window sill. Pulled up on to the cab and then up again on to the roof.
Richard and Chiade arrive with the rest of the equipment and we haul it to the top. As long as everyone stays still doing a live will be possible as the truck rocks as we move around.
While we set up more survivors are found and taken to hospital.
Just as we dial in to London it starts to spit with rain. Fine. The wind picks up and Chiade has to hold on to the M4’s to stop them blowing away, while I hold the camera down and Richard trys to stand still. Then in starts to rain. Very hard. A mad scramble ensues to keep it the kit dry. Impossible to do a live under these conditions. Whilst the kit is somewhat water proof - drenching won’t do it much good. Its now midnight and we are all very very wet. Nipping back to the car we find some dry clothes and change. The weather doesn’t improve and setting up for a live again is out of the question so we film a piece to camera and head off.
Its now 1.00am and back at the hotel we encode and start to ftp our stuff back to london. I set it up and let the computer get on with it. My alarm wakes me at 2.45 I call london to check it has arrived safe and sound. Thankfully it has so I go straight back to sleep.
Up at 5.30 the next morning we go back to the towers to check on the progress of the rescue operation. Now that its daylight we set up on top of an ajacent building to do a live. If only we had seen this place last night. My M4’s are not working - they obviously didn’t like the rain at all. Even a call to George - an engineer in London doesn’t alicit any response from the units so we pack up hope they will work next time. Whilst we are struggling at least the UK rescue team found another survivor with their listening gadgets. The young man was pulled free and carried off to hospital giving a thumbs up sign on the way.
Unable to do a live and not waste any more time we head north.
Their collapse is very unusual. All the building around are still standing and unaffected so it must have been a exact resonance from the quake which triggered the collapse.
