As we know an earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface known as tectonic plates. They strike without warning, at any time of year, day or night.
Kashmir lies in the area of collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. The geological activity born out of this collision, also responsible for the birth of the Himalayan mountain range, is the cause of unstable seismicity in the region. The valley witnessed a massive earthquake that struck the region on October 8, 2005.
At least 1,350 people were killed and 6,266 injured in Jammu and Kashmir. The tremors were felt as far away as Delhi and Punjab in northern India. Four fatalities and 14 injured survivors were reported in Afghanistan.
Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir were the worst sufferers of this earthquake. The Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350. Approximately 138,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings.
The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to the collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter.
Need of the hour is that the government should order a safety audit of government buildings especially schools and hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, efforts should be put in to create awareness for the general public in collaboration with the Red Cross.
The teams of the SDRF need to be put on alert in view of the reports about small quakes that were felt in different parts of J&K.
