ISHTIYAQ AHMAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Sept 23: The Kashmir region has witnessed several earthquakes in the last one decade, causing fear and panic among people.
The earthquakes were all of mild and medium intensity and failed to cause much damage. However, experts have appealed to people to prepare for the situation.
As per the details of Meteorological Department, Kashmir over 140 earthquakes have been reported in the last one decade.
On Tuesday evening, panicked residents rushed out of their homes after strong jolts were felt in Kashmir. The National Centre for Seismology said that the quake occurred at a depth of 5 km from the surface at 9.40 pm.
Kashmir felt tremors seven times in 2011, 11 earthquakes in 2012, 25 in 2013, and 19 in 2014.
The earthquakes were recorded highest number in 2015 in the decade when Kashmir was jolted 27 times.
Kashmir 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.
Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, said people should be well prepared to deal with disasters. “People should build earthquake resistant constructions in Kashmir,” Lotus added.
Bashir Ahmad, a research scholar of Earth Sciences said people should be well prepared for earthquakes.
“We can’t predict the timing, but we can prevent loss of life and property,” he added.
The state cabinet approved the Disaster Management Plan in July 2015.
The government had said that it was an effort to reduce the vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters and natural calamities in a more effective manner. However, an official said that the government has done “little” to deal with disasters.
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