Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Oct 26 : A 16-year-old boy was killed and his father seriously injured when they fell down from the hill due to the impact of earth quake in Mahore area of Reasi district while Tata sumo driver was seriously injured when land slide suddenly took place in Banihal area and his stationary vehicle came in its grip whereas, Bhimgarh fort at Reasi and Police Post, Mankote in Poonch suffered damages due to earth quake this afternoon.
Reports from various parts of Jammu region said that powerful earthquake of 7.5 intensity on Richter Scale griped the entire region, causing damage to many structures and sending panic among the people. The people rushed away from their houses in panic after they experienced shocks and stayed outside for about half an hour. Cracks were appeared on many houses and other structures including Government buildings with the impact of earthquake which occurred at around 2.40 pm.
With the impact of earth quake, the land line and mobile phone services of BSNL were suspended immediately while power supply was also hit with the breakage in electric lines and damage caused to other infrastructure. In Bhaderwah and Poonch city, the terrorized people remained sitting in the open fields for long together due to their past bad experience of earthquake. It took about half an hour for normalization of the situation.
In Jammu city, the people rushed outside their houses and remained gathered in the lanes for some time in panic and even the staff from many Government and private offices also left work and ran for the safety.
Reports from Poonch said that Police Post Mankote which is housed in an old building, got damaged due to shocks. However, no loss of life or injury to any one was reported as the cops rushed away after the quake hit the region.
At Bathoi village in Mahore, 16-year-old Mohd Ashraf was killed and his father Ahmed Din seriously injured when both of them fell down from a steep hill while cutting grass. With the first shock the boy fell down and was killed on the spot and his father also lost balance and fell down during second shock.
SDM Mahore Subash Dogra confirmed the incident and said that injured Ahmed Din was removed to Mahore Sub District Hospital and his condition was said to be serious. He said reports of partial damage to scores of houses in the Sub Division has been reported and the reports are still pouring in.
Another report from Reasi said that front main wall between two towers of Bhimgarh Fort near Reasi got collapsed due to the impact of the quake this afternoon. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident. This fort was recently improved/ repaired by a private agency.
Official sources from Ramban said that a Tata Sumo (JK-19/ 2324) vehicle which was stationary in Nachlana area came under landslides during earth quake. Its driver, Mohd Ramzan, son of Ali Gath, resident of Aaram Dakka in Banihal area was seriously injured. He was rushed to Banihal Hospital by the locals of the area. Reports of damages was still coming from various area of the region.
The intensity of the earthquake in Kashmir valley especially in North Kashmir was strong as it is nearer to the epicenter of earthquake. The quake led to panic with people coming out of the buildings into open spaces.
Several buildings developed cracks due to the quake and over one dozen persons were injured in the quake that struck at around 2:40 pm and lasted for a minute.
The telephone and mobile phone services as well as electricity got snapped causing more chaos and panic among people as they were unable to reach their dear ones.
Eighteen persons were injured due to quake. A PDD employee, Manzoor Sofi, was on electric pole in Srinagar repairing electric wires fell down due to earthquake resulting in injuries to him. He was rushed to SKIMS where his condition is stated to be critical.
Two Army personnels were injured when a bunker at Ganjoo House in Sopore Town collapsed. Both were rushed to hospital. Two labourers identified as Bilal Lone of Khrew and Umar Shah of Kishtwar were injured when the wall of JK Cements Factory collapsed at Khrew in Pampore.
A pedestrian Firdous Sheikh was injured when a wall fell on him at Firdousabad in Batamaloo due to quake.
One Adil Gulzar Bhat of Khudpora, Kheram was critically injured after he jumped from second story of his house during earthquake. He was shifted to nearby hospital and later referred to Srinagar.
Ten persons have been admitted in Bone and Joints Hospital Barzulla in injured condition soon after the quake.
Scores of houses and Government buildings have suffered damage due to quake. The Jehangir Chowk Flyover developed cracks. However, traffic was restored on it soon. Several cars were also damaged in Kashmir due to falling objects. Iqbal library of Kashmir University and several class rooms suffered partial damage. The minaret of Khanqah shrine was also partially damaged. The Civil Secretariat has developed cracks due to quake.
The walls of dozens of houses fell due to quake while in Boniyar area of Uri, several houses have been damaged.
The quake led to traffic jams in Srinagar city that lasted till late evening.
Two women died of cardiac arrest soon after the quake. Fatima, 75, wife of Abdul Rashid, of Ahanger Mohalla Bijbehara in Anantnag suffered a major cardiac arrest as the quake struck. She was rushed to hospital but doctors declared her brought dead. Zoona, 65, wife of Ghulam Mohammad Najar, of Mohalla Mir Sahab Baramulla, also suffered cardiac arrest and died.
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