A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Kashmir Valley, causing panic among residents who rushed out of their homes. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the central Budgam district, leading to widespread impact. The tremor occurred at 5:35 a.m., with doors, windows, and household items rattling.
The quake, originating in Budgam district, just 21 km north of Srinagar, shook the entire Kashmir region. People, fearing for their safety, hurried out of their homes as windows and doors shook. Concerned locals reached out to each other via mobile phones, relieved that communication services remained operational.
Authorities are still gathering information on potential casualties or property damage caused by the earthquake. The recent seismic activity brought back memories of the devastating 2005 earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. That quake, with its epicenter in Muzaffarabad town in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, claimed over 80,000 lives and left millions homeless.
The Kashmir Valley has a history of seismic events, with the 2005 earthquake being particularly destructive. Another significant quake, known as the Baramulla earthquake, struck the Valley in 1885, claiming thousands of lives and causing extensive damage. The region, extending up to Zanskar in Ladakh, remains prone to earthquakes, with past tremors causing significant destruction.
