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Indian seismic scientists advise not to panic, suggest a pragmatic disaster management
upgraded medical facilities and curbing of unplanned construction to vanquish fear of earthquake in JK


Jammu, May 25, (Scoop News)-Over half of the nearly 12.5 million people live in the high risk seismic zone V in Jammu and Kashmir having a devastating effect on its population and infrastructure, as forecasted by American geologists.

US based Oregan State University indicated recently in a statement, new geologic mapping in the Himalayan mountain ranges of Kashmir confirming therein that the region is ripe for a major earthquake that could endanger lives of as many as 10 lakh (one million) people.

According to seismic experts, most parts of Kashmir valley and three eastern districts of Jammu’s Chenab valley region including Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar come under the same seismic zone (V). Remaining parts including the Ladakh region fall under seismic zone IV, they added.

Both capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu, having high concentration of population and infrastructure is a cause worry in case of a high intensity earthquake hits the state in future.

On October 8, 2005, a major earthquake hit Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) in which over 75,000 people were killed in Muzaffarabad and its surrounding areas while another 1100 people perished in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts and also elsewhere on this side of the border. The epicenter of this quake was found in Hind Kush mountain range bordering Afghanistan.

As for as Reasi fault mentioned by US seismic experts is considered, the local scientists have expressed concern as it has remained dormant for decades now, silently waiting to release its hidden energy to undo stress. “When it does release of slip, the resulting earthquake may be large- as much as magnitude 8 or greater,” warn scientists.

Seismic experts say the Himalayan state is not considered anymore seismic locked area, a term conceived by geologists in view of dormant tectonic plate activity in the region as entire state has been experiencing enhanced seismic activity in recent years.


“A locked fault means equal resistance exerted by two faults,” explain the scientists while admitting that “earthquakes cannot be foreseen, however, we have set up a network of broadband seismographs in border areas of Poonch, Uri and Kupwara besides Dooru and Bani ( in Jammu and Kashmir) in 2009 and the same have been functional since then.”

“To overcome the challenge, we in the state require a pragmatic disaster management planning, stop unplanned construction, upgrade medical facilities and also generate mass awareness among the people to avoid the damage,” the experts maintain.
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