Balakot – The body of a five-year-old boy who went missing during the devastating 2005 earthquake was found 21 years later during excavation work at his family home in Azad Kashmir’s Balakot.

According to reports, the child, identified as Jamal Shafiq, went missing when a severe earthquake struck on October 8, 2005. He died after his family members performed funeral prayers in absentia after which his body could not be found despite extensive search efforts.

The family searched for the child for a long time but finally accepted his death, although his parents never gave up hope of finding him.

The remains were unexpectedly discovered when workers were excavating a site to build a new house. The body was identified after clothes were found under the debris.

Jamal’s father said that his house collapsed during the earthquake and the child was buried under the debris. Despite prolonged efforts, the family was unable to recover her body at that time.

He said the remains were exhumed, given a proper funeral, and buried in a nearby cemetery.

The grieving father said the recovery of his son’s body after 21 years finally gave the family a sense of closure after decades of agony.