By : Mohan Verma
An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale rocked the Chamba-Kangra Border in Himachal Pradesh this afternoon.
However, there was no loss of life and property, reports said.
Mausam Kendra here said that the quake, occurred at 1341 hours having magnitude at Richter Scale 5.0 of moderate intensity and having epicenter Latitude 32.30 North, Longitude 72.50 East.
A report from Dharmashala said that Kangra valley was rocked with quake on Thursday with its epicenter in Kangra-Chamba region.
Dr. Susheel Kumar, Head Geophysics, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun said that the intensity of the earthquake was 5.1 on the Richter scale with Kangra-Chamba region as its epicenter. Deputy Commissioner Kangra Mr. C.Paulrasu, however, put the epicenter near Palampur.
Dr. Susheel said that the latitude of the earthquake was measured 32.235 and Longitude as 76.423 and it had lasted for nearly 7 to 8 seconds.
The after shocks were experienced even after two hours, the seismology department sources said.
The panic people rushed out of their houses, offices, hospitals and business centers following the severe tremor with doors and windows rattling. The school children also rushed out of their class rooms as the intensity of shock was more.
Mr. Paulrasu also said that there was no loss of life and property reported from any part of the district due to the earthquake.
The last earthquake was experienced here on July 12, this year measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale with epicenter near Chamba.
On June 17, 2014 an earthquake measuring 4.2 with geographical location 32.3 North 76.2 East was experienced in Kangra valley.
Kangra valley falls in the seismic zone V and had experienced a devastating earthquake on April 4, 1905 in which 10,527 residents of Kangra town were killed and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed.