Bhaderwah: A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit Doda on Tuesday afternoon, causing damage to some buildings in Bhaderwah and leaving at least two persons injured, officials said.
The tremors were felt across Delhi and other parts of north India, and in neighbouring Pakistan too.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said the 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck the region at 1:33 pm. Its epicentre was near Thathri, 45 Km from Bhaderwah town in Doda.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 6 kilometres, it said.
In Doda’s Bhaderwah town, a few buildings developed cracks due to the tremors.
The false ceiling of a ward of the Sub-District Hospital collapsed.
Some of the debris fell on patients recuperating in the hospital ward, an official said.
The patients have been moved to safety and are being treated in an emergency ward of the hospital, he said.
A patient, Israr Ahmed, admitted in the hospital and a female employee of R&B department Kaynaat Tabassum were injured, sources said.
Azim Malik, a resident of Ghata Bhaderwah, said his house was damaged due to the tremors.
“It was a strong earthquake and cracks have developed in my house,” Malik was quoted as saying by PTI.
Panic-stricken schoolchildren gathered in fields in the Bhaderwah valley and teachers were seen consoling a few of them who were sobbing.
Officials in Doda said they are assessing the damage caused by the earthquake.
Tremors were also felt in Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, about 150 km from Doda.
The earthquake was also felt in parts of Punjab and Haryana but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
Meanwhile, chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad urged his party workers to visit earthquake affected areas in Chenab valley to help people.
In a tweet, Azad said that the earthquake has caused damage in Chenab valley.
“The earthquake caused damage in J&K, especially in Chenab valley is unfortunate and I appeal to all my workers to visit the affected areas to help the people who suffered damage or any other loss due to this natural calamity!,” he said.
