Srinagar, Dec 19 : In a span of 24 hours, a relentless series of seismic events has plunged the tranquil landscapes of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir into a state of heightened alert. Eleven earthquakes, each leaving its mark on the rugged terrain, have created a dynamic and challenging situation for the affected regions.
The seismic saga began with a formidable 5.7 magnitude quake originating in Kargil, Ladakh, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Striking at 3:48 p.m., the powerful tremor prompted instant alerts, with both GFZ and Kashmir Weather pinpointing the epicenter at 76.74°E, 33.15°N.
Following swiftly, Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir experienced its own seismic drama as a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook the region at 4:01 p.m. The epicenter, situated at 76.7188°E, 33.1832°N, reached a depth of 16 kilometers, intensifying the unfolding seismic activity.
Concurrently, a third earthquake, registering 3.8 in magnitude, impacted Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), its coordinates at 33.34°N, 76.78°E, and a depth of 10 kilometers added another layer of complexity to the seismic narrative.
The unfolding events continued to grip Kishtwar, as another tremor, registering 3.6 on the Richter scale, struck at 4:18 p.m. The epicenter, located at 33.37°N, 76.57°E, and with a depth of 10 kilometers, added nuance to the evolving story of seismic unrest.
The fifth quake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, struck Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at 4:44 p.m., with coordinates at 33.36°N, 76.72°E, and a depth of 10 kilometers.
As aftershocks persisted, the tally reached seven with two additional earthquakes near Kishtwar at 9:13 p.m. and 9:36 p.m., measuring 3.1 and 3.4 in magnitude, respectively. The consistent depth of 10 kilometers highlighted the sustained seismic activity in the area.
The night brought an unexpected turn in the seismic narrative. Four more earthquakes intensified the unfolding story, bringing the total to eleven within the last 24 hours.
Earthquake 8, a magnitude of 3.0, jolted the region at 3:57 a.m., its epicenter located at 33.37°N, 76.68°E in Kargil, reaching a depth of 5km.
Shortly after, at 10:31 a.m., Earthquake 9, with a magnitude of 3.4, struck near Kargil at coordinates 33.33°N, 76.85°E. This time, the seismic event reached a depth of 10km, further complicating the situation for the affected areas.
The seismic landscape continued to evolve as Earthquake 10, measuring 2.9 in magnitude, shook Kishtwar at 11:18 a.m. The epicenter, situated at 33.46°N, 76.43°E, delved to a depth of 10km, adding to the dynamic nature of the unfolding story.
And at 11:28 a.m., Earthquake 11, registering 2.8 in magnitude, echoed through the region with its epicenter located at 33.24°N, 76.06°E and a depth of 10km.
With a total of eleven earthquakes within the last 24 hours and now 4 more earthquakes shake Jammu and Kashmir, count reaches
