Srinagar: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted J&K on Friday as people ran out of their homes in panic, carrying children and helping elderly people out of concrete structures.
Panic was widespread in the Valley, while shocks were felt in the Jammu division as well.
So far, no reports of casualties or property damage have been received from anywhere, although officials said they are gathering information from different districts and remote areas of J&K.
Disaster management officials said the earthquake occurred in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan region and measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake occurred at 9.42 p.m., and its epicenter was 150 km inside the Earth’s crust. Its coordinates were latitude 36.29 degrees north and longitude 70.87 degrees east.
Seismically, the Kashmir Valley lies in an earthquake-prone region, and past tremors have wreaked havoc in the Valley.
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred on October 8, 2005. Over 80,000 people were killed in that earthquake, and even larger numbers were injured.
Muzaffarabad town in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was razed to rubble in that earthquake.
Kashmir has a long history of severe seismic activity, experiencing 5,000 years of recorded earthquakes due to its location on the tectonically active Himalayan boundary.
In 1555, Kashmir experienced one of its most destructive earthquakes, resulting in widespread damage and significant casualties.
In 1885, the Baramulla Earthquake occurred on May 30, destroying over 75,000 huts and causing over 3,000 deaths, with severe damage in Baramulla and Srinagar.
In 1905, the Kangra Earthquake occurred, although centred in Himachal Pradesh, its effects were heavily felt in the Kashmir region, causing major damage.
Kashmir Valley, an intermontane basin, remains high-risk due to ongoing interactions between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Studies indicate that the region faces a constant threat, as evidenced by faults such as the Balapur fault, which has experienced past movement and remains a significant hazard.
(IANS)
