Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 13: A moderate intensity earthquake hit Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban districts and parts of Udhampur area this evening.
Official sources said a fresh tremor of magnitude 5.2 on Richter scale was felt in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts besides adjoining areas of Udhampur and Reasi districts at 7.03 pm today. Its epicenter was measured by the Met officials at Latitude 33.3 degree (North) and Longitude 75.8 degree (East), with depth 18 kms.
“Jolts were felt when a mild intensity earthquake this evening hit the mountainous Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu region,” official sources said.
The panic gripped people of this belt, already having bitter experience of many such jolts, rushed out of their houses and shops. No report of any damage or loss of life has been reported so far from any part of these districts.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Mubarak Singh disclosed that fresh tremor this evening has triggered panic among the people of this belt. He said intensity of the quake was around 5.2 at Richter scale. It can not be said as mild earth quake as people felt good jolts. He disclosed that epicenter of this quake was about 18 kms west of Kishtwar town , which is some where, in mountainous Keshwan area of district Kishtwar.
Mr Singh further said that immediately after this quake at 7.03 pm, he was constantly in touch with officers at Tehsils and Niabats but no loss of life or injury to any body has been reported so far. There are reports of cracks developing in the houses and Government buildings in many areas but exact reports may reach by tomorrow, Mr Singh added.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Mohd Javed Khan, however, said the time interval of the quake was just little but jolts were effective. Many people felt the tremor and they ran out of their houses and shops. He said no report of loss of life or injury to any one has been reported in his district but said that the area being far-flung, the reports may pour in by tomorrow. He said that all the agencies have been put on alert after this tremor and officers have been directed to get in touch with all the Blocks and Niabats in the district.
It is pertinent to mention here that a tremor measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale was recorded at 12.25 pm on May 1, 2013 and after that some low and mild intensity aftershocks continued till today in Bhaderwah, Doda and Kishtwar areas. About hundreds of buildings including schools, hospitals and private houses suffered damage in Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar belt. The important buildings which suffered major damages in Bhaderwah included All India Radio station, Bhaderwah Development Authority building, New SDH hospital building at Dandi, Govt Girls Hr Sec School Bhaderwah, Tourist Complex at Dandi and Tourist Reception Center at Sarna. About 127 mild and low intensity tremors have been felt after 408 days of the major earthquake in this Doda belt so far.
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