Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, June 13: A moderate earthquake jolted many parts of the mountainous districts of Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory and inflicted partial damages to several residential houses, school buildings, shops, Government buildings including a hospital etc at 1.33 pm today but luckily there was no report of loss to life or some major injury to anyone.
Slight tremors were also felt in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri while there were almost no reports of tremors from other parts of J&K.
Quoting data by National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Director Metrology, Sonam Lotus informed that magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 and its epicenter was in Doda at a depth of 6 km. Click here to watch video
After experiencing tremors people came out in open and deserted their offices and houses for safety.
Patients admitted in Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bhaderwah had a narrow escape when the false-ceiling there collapsed and fell on some patients injuring two of them and they were shifted to emergency section of the hospital.
A lady employee at a building of R&B Department in Bhaderwah was also injured while working in her office after some debris fell on her and she was shifted to SDH Bhaderwah for treatment.
Two students at a school received minor injuries when the debris hit them.
The panic gripped parents in Bhaderwah rushed to the schools to know about well being of their children while the school authorities had shifted the children to open fields for safety.
After witnessing tremors, children of some schools started crying and their teachers were seen consoling them.
Some minor cracks were also reported in Government and private buildings at Gandoh, Thathri and other areas in Doda district.
DC Doda, Vishesh Mahajan told Excelsior that there was no loss of life and no major damage due to the earthquake as no building collapse was reported.
“At some places there were cracks in some buildings while at other place a piece from the roof fell down. There was a report from a place regarding tiles coming out of some bathroom,” he informed adding: “At a house which we visited, I found one floor developed some cracks while the other two floors there were unaffected.”
“We are asking our engineering teams to access if the buildings with cracks are safe to use,” Mahajan maintained.
He also said that some people were calling district administration from Gandoh and the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildar were on spot there helping the people.
“To get actual details of damage due to the earthquake it will take a day or two as this is a big district,” Mahajan continued.
“I myself visited Bhadarwah and Doda towns and noted cracks in Government buildings too wherein some cracks were superficial,” he said adding: “Though the tremors were terrible but thank God that there was no major loss.”
DC Doda informed that despite tremors there was no disruption in power-water supply and telecommunication services in the area.
SSP Doda, Abdul Qayoom also accompanied the DC Doda during visit to Bhaderwah and Doda towns to assess the damage caused by the earthquake.
Sources informed that all the Assistant Deputy Commissioners (ADCs), Sub District Magistrates (SDMs), Tehsildars and Police officers were on high alert and are in continuous touch with the public.
Representatives of Local Bodies, Lumbardars and Chowkidars were assessing the situation and reporting the same to higher authorities.
DC Doda has urged the public not to panic and stay vigilant and report to the concerned ADC, SDM, Tehsildar or Control Room of DC office in case of any eventuality.
Despite repeated attempts, DC Kishtwar, Dr. Devansh Yadav could not be contacted.
DC Ramban, Musrat Islam when contacted said that no report of damage due to earthquake was received by his office till last reports.
“May be in some shadow areas in upper reaches the tremors had caused some damage but there is no confirmation for that so far,” he said.
As per reports, tremors were also felt in Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, across Delhi and other parts of north India and also in neighbouring Pakistan.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
