- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 12 Apr 2025 02:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Earthquake in J&K: An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck on Saturday afternoon with its epicentre located in Pakistan. Mild tremors were felt in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials from the Meteorological Department.
Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the MET Department, confirmed that the quake occurred at 1:00 PM IST, at latitude 33.63 degrees North and longitude 72.46 degree East, around 10 km deep inside the Earth’s crust. “The epicentre was in Pakistan, and light tremors were felt in J&K,” he said.
Earthquake-Prone Kashmir Region
The Kashmir Valley is part of a high-risk seismic zone and has a history of devastating earthquakes. The most destructive in recent memory was the October 8, 2005 earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
This disaster led to the deaths of over 80,000 people on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and caused massive destruction in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, northern India, and China's Xinjiang region. In India alone, the quake claimed 1,360 lives and injured over 6,000 people.
Chenab Valley Also at Risk
Over the past decade, the Chenab Valley in J&K , especially Kishtwar and Doda districts — has experienced frequent tremors. These quakes have caused cracks in many government and private buildings, making them unsafe for residents.
Experts Urge Safer Construction
Experts are urging residents in earthquake-prone areas like the Kashmir and Chenab valleys to build earthquake-resistant structures. Traditional houses made of wood and mud, commonly used in the past, were found to be more resilient to tremors compared to modern cement-concrete buildings, which are now more vulnerable.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region and advise preparedness to minimise damage in the event of future earthquakes.
