Mild quake hits Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA - An earthquake of light intensity has struck areas of Himachal Pradesh adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, an official said here Sunday.

“An earthquake of light intensity hit Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district at 6.23 p.m. Saturday. It was measured 2.3 on the Richter scale. However, there is no report of any loss of life and damage to property,” meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.

He said the tremors of the quake felt for a few seconds in the entire district.

“Its epicentre was at latitude 32.8 degrees north and longitude 76.0 degrees east. The area is adjoining Jammu and Kashmir,” the official added.

Earlier, Chamba district was hit by a quake of moderate intensity July 17 last year. The quake measured 4.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was Holi and Bharmour region in the district.

Himachal Pradesh had witnessed the most devastating earthquake of the century that struck the Kangra valley in 1905, killing more than 20,000 people.