Seven back-to-back earthquakes rattle Ladakh, J&K

Srinagar, Dec 18: A powerful earthquake was felt across Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir late Monday afternoon, causing panic among the people.

The epicentre of the tremor was located in Zanskar, Kargil at a depth of 10 km and its magnitude was 5.5 on the Richter scale.

After the first earthquake, four more quakes were reported - one more in Zanskar and Kargil, and two in Kishtwar.

The back-to-back five jolts were reported within an hour.

Late in the evening two more earthquakes were reported from Kishtwar.

The jolts caused panic among the locals, especially as most parts of J&K fall under zones IV and V, which are vulnerable to natural disasters.

The residents of Ladakh, Kashmir, and Kishtwar rushed out of buildings, however, there was no report of any loss of life or property.

The first earthquake of 5.5 magnitude struck Zanskar, Kargil, in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir regions late Monday afternoon.

The quake struck at around 3:48 pm. “Earthquake of Magnitude: 5.5, Occurred on 18-12-2023, 15:48:53 IST, Lat: 33.41 & Long: 76.70, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Kargil Ladakh, India for more information Download the BhooKamp Appriseq.seismo.gov.in/riseq/Interact…@Indiametdept @ndmaindia @Dr_Mishra1966 @KirenRijiju @Ravi_MoES @DDNational (sic),” National Center for Seismology (NCS) posted on X, minutes after the earthquake shook the area.

After about 20 minutes 3.8 magnitude quakes struck the same area.

“Earthquake of Magnitude: 3.8, Occurred on 18-12-2023, 16:01:32 IST, Lat: 33.34 & Long: 76.78, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Kargil, Ladakh, India for more information DownloadtheBhooKampAppriseq.seismo.gov.in/riseq/Interact…@Dr_Mishra1966@KirenRijiju@ndmaindia @Indiametdept @Ravi_MoES (sic),” National Center for Seismology (NCS) posted on X.

Later, two earthquakes shook the Kishtwar district.

“Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.8, Occurred on 18-12-2023, 16:01:30 IST, Lat: 33.40 & Long: 76.58, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, India for more information Download the BhooKamp Appriseq.seismo.gov.in/riseq/Interact… @ndmaindia @KirenRijiju @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 (sic),” National Center for Seismology (NCS) posted on X minutes after the earthquake jolted Kishtwar.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:3.6, Occurred on 18-12-2023, 16:18:08 IST, Lat: 33.37 & Long: 76.57, Depth: 10 Km, Region: Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, India for more information Download the BhooKamp App riseq.seismo.gov.in/riseq/Interact… @Ravi_MoES @KirenRijiju @Dr_Mishra1966 @moesgoi (sic),” National Center for Seismology (NCS) posted on X minutes after the second earthquake shook the area.

The quake caused panic among people as they started rushing out of buildings.

The fifth earthquake of 3.4 magnitude with epicentre in Kargil was reported at 4:44 pm.

Two more earthquakes were reported from Kishtwar on Monday at 9.36 pm with a magnitude of 3.1 and another at 9:42 pm with a magnitude of 3.4.

Both had a depth of 10 km.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or property.

After the earthquake, everyone was scared and the aftershocks created more panic.

“After the jolts, there was panic among the people,” the Head of Police in Ladakh Union Territory, Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal told Greater Kashmir. “There is no loss of life or property.”

The jolts also created panic in Kashmir and Chenab valley.

In Kashmir, residents were seen coming out of buildings for safety.

"Soon after we felt the earth shaking, we came out for our safety,” said Abdul Hanan of Barbar Shah.

He said that the tremors were strong in terms of intensity and stayed for a longer period.

"I was waiting for passengers and suddenly my rickshaw started shaking. I immediately shouted and told my friends about it," said Mumtaz Ahmad, who drives an auto-rickshaw in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar.
Farooq Ahmad, a Sopore resident said that they were watching television when he suddenly observed the TV and couch were shaking.

Initially, he ignored it but when other family members alerted him, he and his family members rushed out of their home.

"I ignored it initially but as soon as I was alerted, I felt the earthquake too. This time it was strong and the couch I was sitting on started shaking a bit. We rushed outside our home,” he said.

Reports of panic were also received from all parts of Kashmir.

“There was panic but no loss of life or property across Kashmir,” a senior Police official said.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Anand Jain told Greater Kashmir that there was no loss of life or property in Kishtwar or any other place.

IRFAN RAINA adds from Ganderbal

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kargil Shrikant Balasaheb Suse told Greater Kashmir that except for some minor cracks at one place, no loss of life or damage to any property had been reported after the earthquakes so far.

Ladakh region in the recent past has been hit by several earthquakes, however, without causing any damage.

On December 2, two mild intensity earthquakes of magnitude 3.4 and 3.7 hit the Ladakh region.