Srinagar, Dec 18: At least seven consecutive earthquakes of moderate intensity hit Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh UTs on Monday afternoon. However, there were no reports of casualties or damage to property in the twin Himalayan regions, officials said.
Director MeT, Srinagar Dr. Mukhtar said that a total seven earthquakes occurred on Monday within a span of one hour with epicentres over J&K and Ladakh . He said no damage was reported anywhere in the twin UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
Following the tremors residents panicked and were seen fleeing from homes and offices across the Kashmir valley.
The National Center for Seismology reported that the initial earthquake, registering a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter Scale, struck J&K and Ladakh around 3:48 pm. The quake’s epicenter was situated at a latitude of 33.41 and longitude 76.70, with a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the ground in the Kargil region of the union territory of Ladakh.
Approximately thirteen minutes later, another earthquake of magnitude 3.8 on the Richter scale occurred in the same region, with its epicenter once again in Zanskar Kargil, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Concurrently, a minor earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 on the Richter Scale, originating in the Kishtwar region of J&K, transpired around the same time. Subsequently, the fourth earthquake, with an epicenter in Kishtwar and a magnitude of 3.6 on the Richter Scale, occurred at approximately 4:18 pm.
The National Center for Seismology posted information about the fourth quake on social media, stating, “Earthquake of Magnitude: 3.6, Occurred on 18-12-2023, 16:18:08 IST, Lat: 33.37 & Long: 76.57, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir.”
At 4:45 Pm, another earthquake of magnitude 3.4 on the Richter scale occurred in the same region, with its epicenter once again in Zanskar Kargil, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
It is pertinent to mention here, Jammu and Kashmir is prone to earthquakes, with routine small tremors and occasional moderate to large earthquakes affecting nearly all parts of the region.
The deadliest earthquake in recent history struck on October 8, 2005, along the India-Pakistan border, claiming over 80,000 lives in northern Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Kashmir Valley is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, situated between the Pir Panjal and Zaskar thrusts. Other northern parts of Jammu & Kashmir are also heavily faulted, with a NW-SE trending strike-slip fault running along the Zaskar and Ladakh ranges, marking the longest fault line in the region.
