Srinagar, Jan 12:- Since the last three months, Jammu and Kashmir has received 24 jolts or tremors with most of them measuring 4.4 on Richter scale. The highest magnitude of earthquake which jolted J&K on October 26th was measured as 7.5 on Richter scale at 2:45 PM IST, which killed three persons in the state and injured several including two army-men. As per reports ,several houses were partially damaged across the state and a report of a crack in the fly over in the main city centre of Srinagar was witnessed by the shock. According to many, it was reminiscent of the earthquake which rocked the valley in the year 2005.
After that state has received 23 jolts with most of them having intensity of 4.6, 4.4 and 4.8 on Richter scale. Few of them measured 3.8, 3.6, 6.3 and 5.5 on Richter scale. Most of the tremors were felt during the night at different intervals creating a fear psychosis in the minds of people. We are afraid of sleeping at night for past many days. The tremors felt during night are like bombs which are being dropped to people having no knowledge as such. This is a congested place where single house is attached to another. God Forbid if there comes a high magnitude earthquake; these houses will fall like slices of cake one after another. Shehre-khaas particularly has fragile houses which mean that there is more danger of damage and deaths if a catastrophe hits it like earthquake or floods. Earthquake is more threatening as compared to other calamities because one doesnt know about it ,said Abdul khaliq Wangoo, a teacher by profession living at Aali Kadal, Srinagar.
As Jammu and Kashmir is a highly seismic zone, the occurrence of frequent earthquakes is on cards. Most parts of the Kashmir Valley (11% of the area of the state) covering the Districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V, where around 50% of the population of the State lives. Based on historical records, the region has experienced quite a few devastating earthquakes like the one in 1555 AD and currently constitutes one of the four seismic zones of Himalayas that have not fully released the accumulated stress. The magnitude 7.6 Muzaffarabad earthquake in 2005 at the far western end of the Kashmir seismic gap was estimated to have released only 10 percent of the accumulated stress.
Roger Bilham of the Colorado University, well-known for his GPS work in the Himalayas, has recently estimated that the accumulated stress in the region could potentially produce a horrendous 9.0 magnitude earthquake.
As the state is yet to overcome the scars of Sept.7 floods last year which damaged property worth of Crores and took more than 200 lives in the state, another catastrophe would mean worse. With respect to State Disaster cell which must be vibrant after sept.7 flood are in all sorts of mess and is lying defunct with state administration watching helplessly.
Dr. Majid Farooq a scientist with Environment and Remote Sensing Department said, We are not prepared well. Our disaster cell of the state has not learnt lessons from Sept.7 floods. There is no recovery point. The scars of floods are still haunting people and new deadly catastrophe would make state a Lesion for damages and deaths. The problem is we dont have awareness and hold classes for people and children where we can teach them to save their lives in a earthquake like situation.
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