Bivek Mathur
Jammu, Sept 8: Over 50 earthquakes have hit the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the past seven months.
As per the National Centre of Seismology data, between February 16 and September 8, 2022, as many as 30 earthquakes shook the UT of Ladakh while 22 earthquakes hit the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. “Maximum 18 earthquakes hit the twin UTs in March 2022,” the data reads.
While the minimum intensity of the quakes hitting J&K and Ladakh was measured 3.1 on the Richter Scale on August 19 and August 23 in J&K, the maximum intensity of 5.2 was measured on the Richter Scale on March 16 in Ladakh.
As far as the depth of the earthquakes striking the twin UTs is concerned, the National Centre of Seismology tracked the tremors at depths ranging in between 5 Km to 180 Kms.
In Jammu region, maximum quakes were reported from Reasi, Doda, Udhampur, and Kishtwar districts while in Kashmir region the quakes were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla districts.
Prof. SK Pandita, expert in Sedimentology, Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Disaster Management and Quaternary Geology, says, “The Indian tectonic plates have been continuously drifting against the Eurasian plates at the rate of 3-4.5 cm per year. This collision of the plates results in development of a pressure beneath the earth’s surface. When this pressure is released, quakes happen.”
“So more quakes mean more pressure is released by the tectonic plates that are colliding against each other,” he says.
On being asked for why maximum quakes have been reported from Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region, he explains, “Although entire J&K and Ladakh fall under seismic zones IV and V but it clearly means that the seismic activity is maximum in Doda and Kishtwar due to varied reasons.”
About people’s fears regarding the possibility of major earthquakes in Jammu and Kashmir particularly in Doda and Kishtwar regions, the geologist says, “No science can predict the time of either minor or the major earthquake. There always remains a possibility of both major and minor quakes. So, nothing can be predicted to allay the fears.”
“Only thing that could be done to minimize the damages in the quakes is to construct the buildings strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority,” he adds.
Note: Make a box of below info
Month wise number of earthquakes hitting J&K and Ladakh
September 2022: 2 earthquakes
August 2022: 11 earthquakes
July 2022: 5 earthquakes
June 2022: 4 earthquakes
May 2022: 1 earthquake
April 2022: 5 earthquakes
March 2022: 18 earthquakes
Feb 2022 (Feb 16 onwards): 6 earthquakes.
