An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh at 21:34 pm today according to the National Center for Seismology. The waves were also felt in Chandigarh along with parts of Punjab and Haryana.
According to officials from the meteorological department in Shimla, an earthquake with a depth of 10 km shook Chamba district. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage from any part of Himachal Pradesh following the brief tremor.
“I felt a strong jolt for a couple of seconds. Just as I was about to head downstairs, the shaking stopped,” said Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh as per the PTI report.
Notably, on this date in 1905, an 8-magnitude earthquake struck Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life. Records from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) indicate that over 20,000 individuals perished in the disaster in the Western Himalayas.
Today’s event serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity. However, advancements in technology and preparedness measures have significantly reduced the potential impact compared to historical events like the Kangra earthquake of 1905, showcasing progress in disaster mitigation and response capabilities.
Recently, Taiwan was hit by strong earthquake waves of 7.4 magnitude on Wednesday that shook the whole world. The earthquake took away about 10 lives and injured more than 1000 people. The most powerful earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years triggered landslides, causing boulders and mud to cascade down mountainsides.
Roads were blocked, and some buildings suffered damage, with collapsed structures left tilting dangerously. Media sources reported on Thursday that rescuers were combing through the area in search of missing individuals, while efforts were underway to reach hundreds of stranded residents in Hualien, situated approximately 200 km south of Taiwan’s capital.