5.8 Magnitude Quake Rocks Chenab Valley, One Dead, Hundreds Injured
Srinagar, May 1, KNT: A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Chenab Valley region at 12:27 pm on Wednesday, leaving at least one person dead and hundreds injured across Kishtwar, Doda and Bhaderwah districts, while tremors were felt across north India, including Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu.
According to meteorological officials, the epicentre was located near Kishtwar town along the Jammu and Kashmir-Himachal Pradesh border at a depth of 15 kilometres.
The worst impact was reported from Bhaderwah and adjoining areas where more than 100 structures collapsed, many of them mud houses and school buildings. In Chinchora, five schoolchildren were injured after the roof of a school building caved in. In Balisa Bisral, at least 40 houses were damaged, leaving over 20 persons with minor injuries.
In Inderwal’s Kontwara area, a man identified as Gosuram died after his house collapsed. Another resident from Jharkhand was airlifted to Jammu in critical condition. Multiple houses in Pasri and adjoining localities were reduced to rubble.
In Kishtwar’s Gulmore area, landslides triggered by the tremor destroyed at least one residential structure. Several educational institutions, including a high school in Jangalwar, suffered structural damage. A six-year-old girl was seriously injured in Cheerji after part of a roof collapsed.
Doda district also reported widespread damage. In Badhabnu village alone, nearly 200 houses were affected, many constructed with mud. Injured residents were shifted to nearby hospitals. In Thatri, a man was critically hurt after being trapped under debris.
Local representatives said the scale of damage is still being assessed, with revenue officials conducting field surveys. Initial estimates suggest losses running into crores, though a final assessment is awaited. [KNT]
