Moderate Earthquake Of 5.5 In Magnitude Hit Kashmir Valley

By M.Santhiran NEW DELHI, June 30 (Bernama) -- A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 hit Kashmir Valley early Tuesday morning, within 48 hours of the 5.6 magnitude earthquake reported in the northeastern state of Assam, India on Sunday. "A moderate intensity earthquake occurred at 3.40am early this (Tuesday) morning," an official with the Indian Meteorological Department stated in a media statement. According to the statement, the epicentre of the earthquake was in the Hindukush mountain range of Afghanistan. Times of India reported that tremors were felt when Muslims had just completed their pre-dawn meal to begin the day's fast on the 12th day of the holy month of Ramadan. So far no major casualties or damage to properties were reported. In October 2005, more than 40,000 people died after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Kashmir Valley. On Sunday, during the earthquake in Assam, tremors were reported as far as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the eastern part of India. --BERNAMA