The 1935 Quetta earthquake struck a few minutes after 3am on 31 May 1935, with a magnitude of 7.7. It destroyed most of the city in under a minute, and the death toll is put at between 30,000 and 60,000, making it the deadliest earthquake in South Asia until Kashmir in 2005. Very little of the pre-1935 city survives. What visitors find today is a rebuilt Quetta, a few memorials and the stories the disaster left behind.
This guide covers what happened, what fell and what stood, and what remains to see.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 May 1935, just after 3am |
| Magnitude | 7.7 |
| Deaths | 30,000 to 60,000 (official figure 30,000; unofficial estimates higher) |
| Worst hit | Quetta city; Mastung, Maguchar and Kalat also damaged |
| Aftershock | 2 June 1935, magnitude about 5.8 |
| What remains | A railway employees' memorial and rebuilt streets; little else |
What happened on 31 May 1935?
The main shock came a few minutes after 3am, and a clock at the Central Post Office is recorded as having stopped at 3.03. One account says the city was flattened in about 45 seconds. Tremors were felt as far away as Agra in India.
Quetta at that time was a garrison town of the British Indian army, with an air force base, a staff college and a railway. It was also a busy civilian city, and that is where most of the dead were.
How many people died?
Nobody knows exactly. Official records give 30,000, and unofficial estimates go as high as 60,000. British estimates rose day by day, from about 20,000 to 40,000 by mid-June, with some reports citing 56,000. Treat any single number with caution; a range of 30,000 to 60,000 is the accepted answer.
What was destroyed and what survived
The damage was uneven, and the difference is telling. The civilian city, with its narrow streets and houses of mud or brick with poor mortar, was almost entirely razed. The railway area was destroyed, and the church, the club and the Murree Brewery were in ruins. The Royal Air Force garrison lost most of its aircraft, leaving only 6 of 27 serviceable.
The Cantonment fared far better, because its streets were wide and its buildings more solid. About three-quarters of it was slightly damaged and remained habitable, and the Staff College and Hanna Road were reported undamaged. Government House was partly standing but in ruins.
The rescue and its controversy
The military took control, imposed martial law under Lieutenant General Sir Henry Karslake, and sealed the city under guard from 2 June. Troops handled rescue, medical work and the prevention of looting, and a tent city housed survivors. The cordon kept outside volunteers out for several days, and that caused political argument at the time over whether the response was adequate. Rescue work earned eight Albert Medals and nine Empire Gallantry Medals, mostly for British and Indian soldiers.
What remains of old Quetta today
Be realistic. There is no ruined old town to walk through, because the earthquake and the rebuilding cleared it.
- The railway employees' memorial. A memorial listing North Western Railway staff and families who died stands at the junction of Zarghun Road and the road to the railway station.
- Jinnah Road. Formerly Bruce Road, this main commercial street was rebuilt after the quake, and historic photographs show it before and after. It is the best place to imagine the scale of the loss.
- Sandeman Memorial Hall. This building, named after the administrator Sir Robert Sandeman, was badly damaged in 1935. Check locally on its present condition before you plan around it.
- The graves. Many victims were buried in trenches in the British cemetery or cremated, so the city's old cemeteries are part of the record.
If you plan to see these sites, keep them short and combine them with other Quetta stops. Our guide to hotels in Quetta helps with where to stay.
Is it safe to visit Quetta?
Quetta is in Balochistan, and the UK government advises against all travel to the province, which can affect travel insurance. Foreign nationals need police permission and an escort. A suicide bombing of a shuttle train near Chaman Phatak on 24 May 2026 killed at least 47 people. Pakistani visitors do travel to Quetta, but check local news and police advice before you go, and keep to daylight. Our Quetta safety guide goes into more detail.
Is it worth seeking out?
For history readers, yes, in the sense that it explains why Quetta looks the way it does: low-rise, wide-streeted in the Cantonment. As a sightseeing stop it is minor, so treat it as context rather than as a destination. Our destinations page lists other places to see.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Quetta earthquake?
On 31 May 1935, a few minutes after 3am. Its magnitude was 7.7.
How many people died in the 1935 Quetta earthquake?
Between 30,000 and 60,000. The official figure is 30,000, and unofficial estimates are higher.
Was Quetta rebuilt after 1935?
Yes. Nearly all civilian houses were razed, and the city was rebuilt afterwards, so few pre-1935 buildings remain.
Is there a memorial to the Quetta earthquake?
There is a memorial to North Western Railway employees and their families at the junction of Zarghun Road and the road to the railway station.
Which part of Quetta survived best?
The Cantonment, with its wide streets, suffered much less than the crowded civilian city.
