Back-to-back earthquakes strike Kashmir

SRINAGAR — Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 4.9 and 4.8 magnitude respectively, hit Kashmir on Tuesday morning. The tremors, which occurred within a few minutes of a gap, were felt throughout the Valley, causing dozens of houses to develop cracks in Qaziabad and Mawara areas of northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

According to police sources, two persons, including a minor girl, sustained injuries in the twin earthquakes. The injured have been identified as 22-year-old Umar Maqbool Sheikh, a resident of Kralpora Qaziabad and 14-year-old girl Bilkees Manzoor of Shalapora Qaziabad. The duo was hospitalized by the locals.

However, no loss of life or significant damage to property was reported in the Kashmir capital, Srinagar, despite widespread panic among locals.

Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Department told the news agency KNT that the first earthquake occurred at 6:45 am, with its epicenter located in Baramulla district, approximately 5 km beneath the earth’s surface. The second earthquake struck just seven minutes later, at 6:52 am, with its epicentre also located in the same district.

The earthquakes caused significant alarm among the local population, with many rushing out of their homes in fear.

An official said that in the aftermath of the earthquakes, officials are conducting thorough assessments of the damage and providing support to affected families.