In an update posted on X, the NCS reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 5 kilometers at the coordinates 33.00 N latitude and 75.94 E longitude.
So far, there are no reports of injuries or potential casualties, and any damage is yet to be assessed.
The Chenab Valley region of Jammu and Kashmir, which encompasses the Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Reasi districts, has experienced a rise in seismic activity over the past five to seven years, with earthquakes of varying magnitudes frequently occurring.
Seismologically vulnerable zone
Historically, earthquakes have caused significant devastation in the Union Territory, which lies in a seismologically vulnerable zone.
One of the most catastrophic events took place on October 8, 2005, when a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir at 8:50 a.m. The epicenter was located 19 kilometers northeast of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).The quake inflicted widespread destruction across northern Pakistan, northern India, and Afghanistan, with the Muzaffarabad area suffering the most severe damage, resulting in the total destruction of several villages.In the Kashmir Valley, at least 32,335 buildings collapsed across various cities, including Anantnag, Srinagar, and Baramulla.
The official death toll in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) reached 79,000, though other estimates suggest it could be as high as 86,000. More than 69,000 people were reported injured.
In Jammu and Kashmir alone, at least 1,350 fatalities occurred, with 6,266 individuals injured. The tremors were felt as far away as Delhi, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter.
