Major Earthquake Likely In Jammu and Kashmir

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2016-05-21 12:06:45

Credit: mouthshut.com

Credit: mouthshut.com

New geologic mapping in the Himalayan mountains of Kashmir suggests that the region is ripe for a major earthquake that could endanger the lives of as many as a million people, according to an Oregon State University statement.
Scientists have found that the Reasi fault near Jammu has been building up pressure for some time, suggesting that when it does release or "slip", the resulting earthquake may be large — as much as magnitude 8.0 or greater.
Scientists started looking at this fault more closely following the 7.6-magnitude earthquake in 2005 on the nearby Balakot-Bagh fault in the Pakistan side of Kashmir, which was not considered particularly dangerous because it wasn't on the plate boundary. The 2005 Kashmir earthquake killed about 80,000 people in Pakistan and India.

Results of the new study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation of US, have been accepted for publication by the Geological Society of America Bulletin, and published online.

Source: Times of india, greaterkashmir.com