Jammu, Oct 6 (IANS) — A mild earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir early Monday morning, officials said. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far.
According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the tremor occurred at 2:47 a.m., with its epicentre located in the Doda district at a depth of 5 kilometres. The quake’s coordinates were recorded at 33.10°N latitude and 76.18°E longitude.
Residents in Doda reported feeling the tremor, which caused brief panic but no major disruptions. Officials noted that the region lies in a seismically active zone and has experienced similar low- to moderate-intensity quakes in the past.
The Kashmir Valley and Chenab Valley regions are both classified as high-risk seismic zones. The area has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes, including the 7.6 magnitude quake of October 8, 2005, which struck at 8:50 a.m. and claimed over 80,000 lives across both sides of the Line of Control (LoC). The epicentre of that disaster was in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was nearly flattened by the tremor.
In recent years, light to moderate earthquakes have been recurring in the Chenab Valley—particularly in Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts. Seismologists continue to study the underlying causes of these frequent tremors.
Authorities have urged residents to follow earthquake-resistant construction practices, minimizing the use of rigid cement concrete structures that are more vulnerable during seismic events.
