Srinagar, Oct 8 (PTI) A massive earthquake today rocked North India with Jammu and Kashmir being hit the hardest where 157 people, including 16 army personnel, were killed and over 600 injured as hundreds of houses were flattened and communication links severely disrupted.
While 142 people died in the valley, 15 were killed in Jammu region in the earthquake that struck at 9:25 am measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale and epicentred in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya said at a press conference here.
He said over 600 people were injured in the devastating earthquake. The worst affected was the border township of Uri in Baramulla district.
Fifteen army jawans were killed when barracks and bunkers collapsed in Uri. Several houses and the Uri main market was flattened.
"We have received information of fatal injuries to 15 soldiers along the LoC in North Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla," the sources said.
He said the Army and the Airforce have launched rescue and relief operations in the border areas and have so far evacuated injured civilians to Uri Field Hospital. Makeshift hospitals have also been set up and doctors were being flown to Uri to attend to the injured.
Efforts are on to restore essential supplies, including power, water and telecommunication links in the valley.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was closely monitoring the situation, announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed and assured all possible Central assistance to the state to deal with the tragedy. PTI
Source
While 142 people died in the valley, 15 were killed in Jammu region in the earthquake that struck at 9:25 am measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale and epicentred in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya said at a press conference here.
He said over 600 people were injured in the devastating earthquake. The worst affected was the border township of Uri in Baramulla district.
Fifteen army jawans were killed when barracks and bunkers collapsed in Uri. Several houses and the Uri main market was flattened.
"We have received information of fatal injuries to 15 soldiers along the LoC in North Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla," the sources said.
He said the Army and the Airforce have launched rescue and relief operations in the border areas and have so far evacuated injured civilians to Uri Field Hospital. Makeshift hospitals have also been set up and doctors were being flown to Uri to attend to the injured.
Efforts are on to restore essential supplies, including power, water and telecommunication links in the valley.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was closely monitoring the situation, announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed and assured all possible Central assistance to the state to deal with the tragedy. PTI
Source
