Jammu experienced 9 back-to-back earthquakes; Experts call for precautions

Experts have warned of a bigger earthquake in the Jammu region and asked people to take precautionary measures after nine back-to-back temblors of magnitudes 4.1 and 3.2 this week, citing heightened activity in the area classified as highly vulnerable to quakes.

“This region has been tectonically active for a long time and in the recent past. There is a likelihood of more such jolts in the region and a bigger one is likely to happen anytime in near future,” said GM Bhat, a geologist at the University of Jammu. “People of the region need to take precautionary measures and know dos and donts.”

Bhat called awareness about the construction of buildings and the location of such structures of paramount importance. “The region is active. Generally, before the bigger jolt, smaller ones occur in continuity. It [the bigger one] may be in the offing. The last major earthquake of magnitude 5.7 occurred in 2013. Before that, a 6.2 magnitude quake hit the region in 1962,” he said.

Bhat said the seismic activity is a continuous process in the region. “Successive nine events in less than three days is a concern,” he said.

The ninth quake in 60 hours with a magnitude of 3.2 hit Doda at 11.52pm on Wednesday night. On Tuesday, six temblors jolted the region even as there was no report of losses to life or property. The quakes were also felt in Katra, Doda, Udhampur, and Kishtwar districts.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake left over 73,000 dead and millions homeless on either side of the Line of Control, which divides Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in October 2005. It was the deadliest earthquake in South Asia since 1935.