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5.3 Magnitude Earthquake from Tajikistan Jolts Jammu & Kashmir

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake originating in Tajikistan was felt in Jammu and Kashmir, causing tremors but no reported damage or casualties. The region's meteorological department confirmed the quake occurred deep within the earth's crust. Kashmir is historically prone to severe seismic activity, having experienced devastating earthquakes in the past. Notably, a 2005 quake killed over 80,000 people and caused widespread destruction across the region.

Key Points: Earthquake in J&K: 5.3 Tremor Felt, Epicentre in Tajikistan

  • 5.3 magnitude tremor felt in J&K
  • Epicentre 110 km deep in Tajikistan
  • No reports of casualties or damage
  • Region has history of devastating quakes
  • 2005 quake killed over 80,000
2 min read

5.3 intensity earthquake with epicentre in Tajikistan jolts J&K

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in Tajikistan was felt in Jammu & Kashmir. No damage reported. Kashmir's history of major quakes recalled.

"The epicentre of the earthquake was in Tajikistan... no casualty or damage to property has been reported - Mukhtar Ahmad"

Srinagar, Jan 9

An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale was felt in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, although the epicentre was in Tajikistan, said officials here, adding that there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property.

Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the local Meteorological (MeT) Department, told IANS that an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale occurred at 2.44 a.m.

"The epicentre of the earthquake was in Tajikistan, and it occurred 110 km inside the earth's crust. Its coordinates were latitude 38.26 degrees north and longitude 73.42 degrees east. The tremors were felt in J&K, although no casualty or damage to property has been reported from anywhere so far," the MeT department director said.

People living in some parts of Kashmir's Ganderbal district said they were awoken by the rattle of kitchen utensils when they noticed that an earthquake had occurred.

Kashmir is seismologically situated in an earthquake-prone region. Temblors have wrought havoc here in the past.

On October 8, 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred at 8.50 a.m. with its epicentre 19 km north-east of Muzaffarabad town of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

More than 80,000 people were killed in that earthquake, while the town of Muzaffarabad was completely flattened. Thousands of structures in J&K sustained damage in that earthquake, and the aftershocks continued for nearly a month.

Kashmir has an unenviable history of suffering devastation from earthquakes in the past.

The 1885 earthquake, also known as the Baramulla earthquake, occurred on May 30 in Srinagar. It had an estimated moment magnitude of 6.3 - 6.8. At least 3,081 people died, and severe damage was caused by the tremor

The Kashmir Valley has witnessed larger magnitude earthquakes in the past, including a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 1555, a 7 magnitude in 1669, 7.5 magnitude in 1779, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 1885, etc., with devastating effects.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's fascinating how an earthquake in Tajikistan can be felt so strongly in J&K. Shows how interconnected our region is, geologically speaking. Hope everyone is safe.
V
Vikram M
Woke up to the rattling sound in Srinagar! Scary few seconds, but relieved it was minor. Reading about the 2005 quake again gives me chills. We need better public awareness for disaster preparedness.
P
Priyanka N
The article is informative, but I wish it spent more time on what the local administration is doing *now* for earthquake-resistant infrastructure. Prevention is better than cure.
R
Rohit P
Bhai, 2:44 AM! Imagine being woken up like that. Kitne logon ki neend udd gayi hogi. Thankfully it was just a jhatka. Nature's reminder of who's really in charge.
K
Kavya N
My family in Ganderbal felt it. They said it was brief but strong enough to shake the windows. It's a wake-up call. We live in a high-risk zone and should have emergency kits ready. Stay safe, everyone.

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