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5.3 Magnitude Earthquake from Afghanistan Felt Across Kashmir Valley

Tremors from a 5.3 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province were felt in the Kashmir Valley. The region is seismologically active and has a long history of destructive earthquakes, including a devastating 2005 quake that killed over 80,000 people. Historical events like the 1555 and 1885 earthquakes also caused massive destruction and loss of life. Structural engineers advocate for earthquake-resistant construction, opposing vulnerable cement concrete structures in the area.

Key Points: 5.3 Earthquake in Afghanistan Felt in Kashmir | Tremors Felt

  • 5.3 magnitude quake epicenter in Afghanistan
  • Tremors felt in Kashmir Valley
  • Region is highly earthquake-prone
  • History of devastating past earthquakes
  • Experts advocate for quake-resistant construction
2 min read

Tremors of 5.3 magnitude earthquake with epicentre in Afghanistan's Badakhshan felt in Kashmir Valley

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Afghanistan's Badakhshan was felt in Kashmir Valley, a region with a history of devastating seismic activity.

"The earthquake occurred 190 Kms inside the Earth's crust. - Disaster management officials"

Srinagar, April 18

Tremors of an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale with its epicentre in Badakhshan province in Afghanistan, were felt in Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

Disaster management officials said that an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale occurred at 8.24 A.M. on Saturday with the epicentre in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.

"The earthquake occurred 190 Kms inside the Earth's crust. Its coordinates are Latitude 36.55 degrees North and Longitude 70.92 degrees East", officials said.

Seismologically, Kashmir Valley is situated in an earthquake prone region.

Earthquakes have wreaked havoc in Kashmir in the past. A temblor measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit J&K on October 8, 2005 and over 80,000 people were killed in that quake.

The epicentre of the earthquake was in Muzaffarabad town of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and the town was completely razed to rubble in that temblor.

The border town of Uri in Baramulla district of the Valley also suffered massive damage in the 2005 earthquake.

Kashmir has a long history of destructive earthquakes due to its location in a high-seismic zone, with notable historical events including the devastating 1555 and 1885 earthquakes, which caused widespread destruction and thousands of deaths.

Major, well-documented historical earthquakes include the 1555 Kashmir Earthquake which was a highly destructive earthquake, likely of the magnitude of 7.6, which ruined towns and altered the course of the River Vesha.

The 1885 Baramulla earthquake that took place on May 30 was of 6.8 magnitude and caused over 3,000 deaths and severe structural damage in the Srinagar/Baramulla region.

The 1828 earthquake is believed to be a strong event causing significant damage based on analysis of the Pandrethan Temple.

Structural engineers and earthquake experts have advocated construction of earthquake-friendly houses and other structures in Kashmir.

These experts have strongly opposed cement concrete homes and houses. These structural are most vulnerable to temblors as they have little capacity to absorb shocks because of which they cave in.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
The history section is chilling. 1555, 1885, 2005... the cycle is terrifying. My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones in the past quakes. We must invest in proper disaster preparedness and public awareness drills, not just in Kashmir but across all Himalayan states. 🙏
R
Rohit P
Experts are right about opposing concrete homes. Traditional Kashmiri wood and brick 'Dajji Dewar' houses are much more earthquake-resistant. Modern construction for the sake of being "modern" is putting lives at risk. Need to go back to our roots in architecture, at least in quake zones.
S
Sarah B
Reading about the 2005 quake's epicentre being in Muzaffarabad is a sobering reminder of how natural disasters don't respect borders. The suffering was on both sides. Hopefully, scientific cooperation for early warning systems can be a point of collaboration, regardless of politics.
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Vikram M
While the article is informative, it feels a bit repetitive on the historical quakes. Could have focused more on what the disaster management officials are doing *now* after today's tremor. Are there any new alerts? Any inspections ordered? That's what citizens want to know.
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Nikhil C
The fact that it was 190 km deep probably saved us from major damage. A shallow quake of that magnitude would have been worse. Nature giving us a warning shot. Time for municipal corporations to audit old buildings, especially schools and hospitals. Safety first!

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