An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). There were no reports of damage due to the quake.
The earthquake was 5.3 in magnitude and its epicentre was at a depth of 10 kilometres in the Astore area of Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan.
Pertinently, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit Kashmir region on October 8, 2005 leaving behind a trail of destruction besides claim-ing tens of thousands of lives across the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Kashmir comes under Seismic Zone V and is prone to earthquakes. Experts give varied reasons for earthquakes in J&K including various faults run through Kashmir and exploding of gases. Kashmir valley is vulnerable to disasters.
According to the Indian Meteorological De-partment, most parts of Kashmir covering the dis-tricts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu region, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seis-mic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes. The rest of the territory comes under Seismic Zone IV.—KMS
