The rugged Hindu Kush range, which spreads in an arc across Afghanistan, is a very seismically-sensitive area   Credit: Wikipedia
The rugged Hindu Kush range, which spreads in an arc across Afghanistan, is a very seismically-sensitive area Credit: Wikipedia

6.6 magnitude quake strikes Afghanistan

Temblor a 'deep' one in seismic parlance; tremors felt in Jammu Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Delhi
1.

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan at 10:28 UTC (15:58 IST) on April 10, the US Geological Survey reported.

Tremors were felt in Kabul and Lahore in Pakistan and in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir in India, forcing residents to leave their homes.

The epicentre of the 210 km deep quake was 39 km from Ashkasham. It was a "deep" quake and perhaps that is why, tremors were felt as far away as Delhi.

A similar deep quake had struck Afghanistan on October 26 last year. Seismicity in the Himalayas dominantly results from the continental collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, which are converging at a relative rate of 40-50 mm/yr. Northward under-thrusting of India beneath Eurasia generates numerous earthquakes and consequently makes this area one of the most seismically hazardous regions on Earth.

Down To Earth
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