Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sep 22: As Jammu and Kashmir is prone to disasters, at least 140 earthquakes have hit the state since 2009.Official figures of the Meteorological Department reveal that 140 earthquakes jolted JK since 2009.
The state felt tremors nine times in 2009, recorded earthquakes six times in 2010, seven times in 2011, 11 earthquakes in 2012, 25 in 2013, and 19 in 2014.
The earthquakes were recorded highest number in 2015 in the decade when JK was jolted 27 times of which 19 were significant and eight having less than 4 magnitude measured on the Righter scale.
In October 2015, two earth quakes were recorded including a powerful one on October 26 of 7.5 magnitude in which three people lost their lives and caused damage to scores of houses across the state.
In December also, tremors jolted J&K thrice including a power earthquake on 26 midnight of the month measuring 7 on the Richter scale in which two people died due to heart attack.
In 2016, JK was jolted at nine times with the magnitude of 4 to 6 on the Richter scale. However, there was increase in 2017 when JK witnessed earthquakes 19 times. In 2018, around 10 earth quakes have been recorded so far.
JK is vulnerable to disasters. At least 13 districts out of 100 districts in India have been identified as 'multi hazard districts'.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, most parts of Kashmir covering the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu region, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes. While the rest part of the state comes under Seismic Zone IV.
An official of meteorological department said the frequent earthquakes have proved that people and the government should be well prepared in dealing with such incidents.
"We need to take some measures like building earth quake resistant constructions," he said.
An official document of the district development commissioner office Srinagar says that areas, which are 'disaster prone and vulnerable' in Srinagar district would be identified so that "residential colonies are raised at safe locations and people living in risk prone areas are rehabilitated elsewhere".
An official posted at Divisional Commissioner Kashmir office said that there are many buildings in the district, which have been constructed without adhering to the norms pertaining to the earthquake resistant construction.
"Such buildings are not safe enough to resist the impact of a severe earth quake. If earthquake resistant technology is used in construction of buildings, such structures can withstand earthquakes up to a certain magnitude," the official said.
The state cabinet approved the Disaster Management Plan in July 2015, when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had been chief minister of J&K.
The government had said that it was an effort to reduce the vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters and natural calamities in a more effective manner. |
