Srinagar- An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday but there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said.
The epicentre of the quake was on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, they said.
The earthquake of magnitude 5.1, which occurred at 6.45.24 pm, was also felt in J&K, the officials said.
It hit at the coordinates of 36.55 degrees north and 71.20 degrees east at a depth of 216 km, they added.
There are no reports of loss of life or any damage to property, the officials said.
Pertinently, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the Valley on October 8, 2005 leaving behind a trail of destruction besides claiming thousands of lives in both this part of Kashmir.
Most parts of Kashmir come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes. Experts give varied reasons for earthquakes in J&K including various faults run through Kashmir and exploding of gases. Kashmir valley is vulnerable to disasters. At least 13 districts out of 100 districts in India have been identified as ‘multi hazard districts’.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, most parts of Kashmir covering the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu region, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes. While the rest part of the state comes under Seismic Zone IV. (With PTI inputs)
