5.6 magnitude earthquake hits J&K

Srinagar/Shimla, February 5 

An earthquake of 5.6 magnitude struck Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, hours after two low-intensity temblors shook Himachal Pradesh's Chamba and Mandi districts.

The earthquake struck at 10.17 pm and lasted several seconds, officials said.

The epicentre of the quake was at a depth of 80 kilometres in northwestern Kashmir, 118 kilometres from Srinagar, the officials said after revised data came in. Earlier, they had said the quake struck at a depth of 40 km.

There were no reports of any casualties or damage so far. 

Earlier, an earthquake measuring 3.2 was recorded in Himachal's Chamba at 3.51 pm, said Shimla Meteorological Centre Director Manmohan Singh.

Exactly three hours and 40 minutes later, tremors measuring 3.8 were felt in Mandi, located about 120 km away from Chamba, he added.

The epicentre of the quake in Chamba district was at a depth of 5 km whereas the epicentre of the quake in Mandi district was at a depth of 15 km, he added. There was no immediate report of any damage.

Most parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Chamba, fall in high seismic sensitive zone and mild quakes are a regular feature in the region. — Agencies