Several structures received damage in the Doda district of Chenab Valley in Jammu Kashmir during the earthquake on Tuesday afternoon.
As per locals who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the NPS School in Amrit pura zone of Doda’s Bhatyas area Sub-district hospital in Gandoh Bhalessa, PWD office in Doda along with several residential houses in the Chenab valley district received damage during the earthquake that measured 5.4 on the Richter scale.
Sajad Ahmad from Kahara Tehsil of Doda said that the earthquake was felt around 1:30 PM and as soon as people felt it, they started running towards open grounds. “We have never witnessed anything like this. The houses literally shook from one side to the other and it was too scary,” Sajad said, adding, his house has also received damage.
Videos received by The Kashmiriyat from Doda show many houses have suffered major cracks during the earthquake, while the walls of many educational institutes have been damaged during the jolt.
The National Centre of Seismology (NCS) has issued a warning asking people to remain vigilant. “It was the mainshock, however, there might be aftershocks as well,” Dr. OP Sharma, Director of NCS said.
An earthquake of magnitude 13:33 was felt in Jammu Kashmir and may also have been felt in the surrounding states. “The epicenter of the quake was in Gundoh, Doda with a depth of 6-10 kilometers inside the earth and a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richer scale,” he said.
Updates:
3:20 PM: Two minor girls have received injuries during the earthquake at a school in Joura.
3:30 PM: PWD office has suffered massive damage during the earthquake, several schools announced holiday after the earthquake and sent their students home.
3:50 PM: Residential houses in Bhalessa have suffered extensive damage due to the jolt.
4:00 PM: Two Government schools in Kishtwar, Boys High School Kishtwar and and High School Binoon, Bounjwah have been damaged during the earthquake.
4:05 PM: “JKNC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, and VP are deeply concerned about the devastating earthquake in Kishtwar, Doda and other regions. Their thoughts and prayers go out to all affected individuals. They also urge everyone to come together in this time of crisis and provide immediate assistance to those in need. Let’s extend our support and help rebuild the affected areas,” tweets JKNC.
4:30 PM: Concerned over the cracks in several structures, District administration Kishtwar has ordered closure of all the schools in the Chenab valley district.
5:10 PM: House of Kesri Singh son of Sunder Singh Kuttal of Kuntwara Tehsil Drabshalla received massive damage due to the earthquake.
5:20 PM: Prominent volunteer group, Ababeel launches rescue operation in several areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts.
5: 31 PM: Former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti tweets, “Considerable damage caused by an earthquake in Doda today. Hope there are no casualties & relief is extended to the families affected immediately.”
5: 35 PM: At least twenty houses have suffered damage in the Hiloor area of Kuntwara in Kishtwar, a local from Hiloor area said. “We are still accessing the losses,” the local told The Kashmiriyat.
5:40 PM: Rescue operations on for the last one hour in Panchayat Shandri, 18 kilometers away from district headquarters of Kishtwar. At least 25 houses have suffered damage.
6:00 PM: 19 structures have suffered damage in Sangna area of Kishtwar.
7: 30 PM: A female Government employee injured during the collapse of a ward at a hospital during the earthquake.
8: 00 PM: Renowned Professor G M Bhat of Jammu University says that people should be prepared for earthquakes around the region. “The earthquake was a strong earthquake and the magnitude of the earthquake, and the depth of the earthquake determines the damages of the earthquake,” GM Bhat said.
He said that it is highly alarming that the earthquakes in the region are happening at a lesser depth. The lesser depth earthquakes will cause massive damage if they happen at a slightly higher magnitude, he said. Raising concerns over the structure of the houses, G.M. Bhat said that the pattern of our housing may lead to a heavy devastation in Jammu Kashmir.
Expressing concern over the heightened human activity and the “Developmental” works in the mountainous region of Jammu Kashmir, G.M. Bhat said that it can lead to a massive devastation. “Unabated Mining and digging is going on in the area. Development should not be done without considering the disasters it may cause devastation,” he said.
9:00 PM: DC, SSP Doda take stock of damages caused by earthquake. It was informed that there were no reports of loss of life from any part of the district. However, some houses/ buildings have developed cracks due to heavy jolt of the earthquake, they said.