Srinagar, April 3 – An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck J&K on Friday, causing widespread panic as people rushed out of their homes, carrying children and helping elderly people out of buildings.
Panic spread throughout the valley, and tremors were also felt in the Jammu region.
So far, there have been no reports of casualties or damage to property, although officials have said they are gathering information from various 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 struck at 9:42 p.m. local time, and its epicenter was 150 km below the Earth's surface. Its coordinates were latitude 36.29 degrees north and longitude 70.87 degrees east.
Seismically, the Kashmir Valley is located in a region prone to earthquakes, and past tremors have caused significant damage in the valley.
A major earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred on October 8, 2005. Over 80,000 people were killed in that earthquake, and many more were injured.
The town of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) was largely destroyed by the earthquake.
Kashmir has a long history of severe seismic activity, with over 5,000 years of recorded earthquakes due to its location on the seismically active Himalayan border.
In 1555, Kashmir experienced one of its most devastating earthquakes, resulting in widespread damage and significant casualties.
In 1885, the Baramulla earthquake struck on May 30, destroying over 75,000 homes and causing over 3,000 deaths, with significant damage in Baramulla and Srinagar.
In 1905, the Kangra earthquake occurred, although centered in Himachal Pradesh, its effects were heavily felt in the Kashmir region, causing major damage.
The Kashmir Valley, an intermontane basin, remains at high risk due to ongoing interactions between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic 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.