JOIN USA strong earthquake jolted the Kashmir valley on Monday.The tremor, measuring 5.9 (revised from the earlier 5.7) on the Richter scale, according to reports, shook various parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and North India including Kashmir valley (at 3:35 pm) and Delhi.
According to US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was somewhere around the Afghan province of Ashkasham.
There have been no reports of casualty from any part of Kashmir. Immediately after the quake, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah tweeted: “That was a hell of a tremor. Hope everyone is safe & well.”
With scientists across the globe warning of massive earthquake of 8.5 magnitude in the Himalayas, the hilly Jammu and Kashmir, which lies in seismic zone IV and V, could witness the worst ever tremors that could cause immeasurable destruction owing to “faulty planning and ill preparedness” of the state government, experts warn.
On October 8, 2005, a devastating earthquake flattened vast swathes of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and many hamlets in the Valley along the Line of Control, killing thousands of people.