Srinagar- An earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale hit Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, reports said.
The earthquake was felt at 03:48 pm on Fridayand it was located in the Bhalessa region of Doda district.
Pertinently, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the Valley on October 8, 2005, claiming the lives of over 80,000 people in both parts of Kashmir.
According to the official data, J&K and Ladakh experienced 60 earthquakes last year2022. Two years earlier in 2017, Kashmir Valley reported 19 earthquakes compared to nine a year earlier in 2016.
Similarly, in 2015, 27 tremors were witnessed, including the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on October 26. In 2014, when Kashmir witnessed one of the worst floods, nineteen earthquakes hit the erstwhile state. In 2013, 2012, and 2011, the region recorded 25, 11 and 7 tremors, respectively. The year 2010 and 2009 witnessed 6 and 9 earthquakes, respectively.
J&K has witnessed at least 14 earthquakes powerful earthquakes since the year 1123. The most devastating earthquake, with its epicentre in north Kashmir’s Baramulla occurred in 1885 and left 3,600 people dead.
Between 2008 and 2020, J&K has witnessed 164 earthquakes, but most of them have been of magnitude less than 5 on the Richter Scale, according to the data revealed by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
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 of the Union Territory comes under Seismic Zone IV.
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