Neeharikareddyiasacademy at 14:52, 1 October 2025

2025-10-01T14:52:36Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Short description|Earthquake in South Asia}}
{{Infobox earthquake
| name = 1885 Kashmir earthquake
| pre-1900 = yes
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map2 = {{Location map+ | Pakistan
| places =
{{Location map~|Pakistan|lat=34.12|long=74.61|mark=Bullseye1.png|marksize=40}}
| width = 250
| float = center
| caption =
| relief = yes }}
| timestamp = 1885-05-29
| local-date = 30 May 1885
| local-time = 02:24
| duration =
| magnitude = {{M|w|link=y}} 6.3–6.8
| depth = {{cvt|12|km}}
| location = {{Coord|34.12|74.61|type:event_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Fault (geology)#thrust fault|Thrust]]
| affected = [[Pakistan]]
| damages =
| intensity = {{MSK-64|8}}
| pga = 
| tsunami =
| landslide = Yes
| foreshocks = 1
| aftershocks = Many, continued into August 1885
| casualties = 3,081–3,500 dead
}}
The '''1885 Kashmir earthquake''', also known as the '''Baramulla earthquake''' occurred on 30 May in [[Srinagar]]. It had an estimated [[Moment magnitude scale|moment magnitude]] of {{M|w}} 6.3–6.8 and maximum [[Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale]] intensity of VIII (''Damaging''). At least 3,081 people died and severe damage resulted.

==Tectonic setting==
{{See also|Geology of the Himalaya}}
[[Northern Pakistan]] and India is situated at the corner of an active [[destructive plate boundary]] that separates the [[Indian Plate]] from the [[Eurasian Plate]]. The boundary is defined along the [[Main Himalayan Thrust]] where the Indian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. The slightly oblique convergence occur at a rate of 17 ± 2 mm/yr along the Main Himalayan Thrust while the nearby [[Karakoram fault system]] accommodates right-lateral [[strike-slip]] movement at 5 ± 2 mm/yr.<ref name="Kundu">{{cite journal |author1=Bhaskar Kundu |author2=Rajeev Kumar Yadav |author3=Bikram Singh Bali |author4=Sonalika Chowdhury |author5=V. K. Gahalaut |title=Oblique convergence and slip partitioning in the NW Himalaya: Implications from GPS measurements |journal=Tectonics |date=2014 |volume=33 |issue=10 |pages=2013–2024 |doi=10.1002/2014TC003633|bibcode=2014Tecto..33.2013K |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The high convergence rate means many of the plate boundary faults are accommodating strain while locked, frequently releasing them in moderate-sized earthquakes, and sometimes in very large events. The occurrence of large earthquakes makes the Kashmir region vulnerable to deadly earthquakes. The region has hosted many large and destructive earthquakes since the beginning of records in 2082–2041 BCE. The most destructive is thought have occurred in [[1555 Kashmir earthquake|1555]], and was the last major event in the [[Kashmir Valley]].<ref name="Yousuf">{{cite journal |author1=Maqbool Yousuf |author2=Syed Kaiser Bukhari |author3=Ghulam Rasool Bhat |author4=Aamir Ali |title=Understanding and managing earthquake hazard visa viz disaster mitigation strategies in Kashmir valley, NW Himalaya |journal=Progress in Disaster Science |date=2020 |volume=5 |article-number=100064 |doi=10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100064 |publisher=[[Elsevier]]|bibcode=2020PrDS....500064Y |s2cid=213250120 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Earthquake==
The earthquake was associated with a [[earthquake rupture|rupture]] on a shallow [[thrust fault]], part of the Himalaya convergent boundary.<ref name="Yousuf" /> It is located east of the rupture areas of the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake|2005 earthquake]], and west of the 1555 earthquake. The 2005 and 1555 earthquakes are the most catastrophic events in the region with magnitudes estimated at 7.6 {{M|w}}.<ref name="Dasgupta" />

Southeast of the Kashmir Valley are two very large thrust faults; the Main Boundary Thrust and Panjal Thrust. To the northeast of the valley, lies the Main Mantle Thrust. The closest faults to the valley are two out-of-sequence reverse faults known as the Kolbug and Balapur faults. The {{cvt|40|km}} long Balapur Fault dips northeast at a steep angle of 60°. The parallel Kolbug Fault produced a {{M|w}} 5.5 earthquake in 1963.<ref name="Ahmad">{{cite journal |author1=Bashir Ahmad |author2=Hamid Sana |author3=Akhtar Alam |title=Macroseismic intensity assessment of 1885 Baramulla Earthquake of northwestern Kashmir Himalaya, using the Environmental Seismic Intensity scale (ESI 2007) |journal=Quaternary International |date=2014 |volume=321 |pages=59–64 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2013.12.043 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618213009774|publisher=[[Elsevier]]|bibcode=2014QuInt.321...59A |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The mainshock generated a [[surface rupture]] measuring {{cvt|54|km}}, with a maximum ground offset of {{cvt|0.6|km}}. The seismogenic structure responsible is named the Baramula-Loridor Fault.<ref name="Yousuf" />

==Damage and casualties==
At 02:24 [[Time in Pakistan|local time]] on Sunday, 30 May, the [[Kashmir Valley]] was rocked by a strong earthquake with varying [[Modified Mercalli intensity scale|Modified Mercalli]] intensities of VI (''Strong'') to VIII (''Severe''). An assessment of the maximum [[Seismic intensity scales|seismic intensity]] on the [[Environmental Seismic Intensity scale]] indicate a degree of X. A minor [[foreshock]] occurred the night before and was felt by several residents. The mainshock was followed by damaging [[aftershock]]s that continued till August 1885. On 15 June, a strong aftershock was felt.<ref name="Dasgupta">{{cite journal |author1=Sujit Dasgupta |author2=Basab Mukhopadhyay |title=Revisiting Two Damaging Indian Earthquakes of 1885: Kashmir and Bengal |journal=Journal of the Geological Society of India |date=2019 |volume=93 |issue=3 |pages=263–268 |doi=10.1007/s12594-019-1172-2 |bibcode=2019JGSI...93..263D |s2cid=135421388 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331476486}}</ref>

A total of 3,081 people were killed. In [[Srinagar]] with a population of 51,000, the city lost 2,000 residents. In the book ''[[The Valley of Kashmir]]'' by [[Walter Roper Lawrence]], the death toll was 3,500. Heavy damage and great losses occurred due to the poor quality of homes. Poorly constructed huts collapsed completely onto sleeping residents. An estimated 75,000 huts were destroyed. Livestock losses were also heavy; 25,000 sheep and goats, as well as 8,000 cattle, died. Many residents at a village were killed when a landslide measuring 800 meters was triggered.<ref name="NGDC">{{cite web |title=Significant Earthquake Information |url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/2348 |website=ngdc.noaa.gov |publisher=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> Liquefaction events including [[sand boil]]s and [[fissure]]s occurred on the banks of the [[Jhelum River]] at [[Pattan]]. Water flow also increased in [[natural springs]].<ref name="Dasgupta" />

The towns of [[Baramulla]] and [[Sopore]] were destroyed. An estimated 67.33% of Baramulla's population was killed. Some 300 to 500 well-constructed wood and brick homes collapsed. Great devastation occurred in Barmulla where many people and cattle were fatally crushed. Vegetation on the nearby hillsides was wiped out by landslides. Many homes were buried. Large scarps formed on the slopes. One such landslide buried Laridura; only seven of the 47 residents survived.<ref name="Dasgupta" />

==See also==
* [[List of earthquakes in India]]
* [[List of earthquakes in Pakistan]]
* [[List of historical earthquakes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Himalayan earthquakes}}
{{Earthquakes in Pakistan}}
{{Earthquakes in India}}

[[Category:May 1885]]
[[Category:1885 in Asia]]
[[Category:1885 in India]]
[[Category:1885 earthquakes]]
[[Category:1880s disasters in Asia]]
[[Category:19th-century disasters in India]]
[[Category:History of Srinagar]]
[[Category:Earthquakes in Kashmir]]
[[Category:Geology of the Himalaya]]

1885 Kashmir earthquake - Revision history

Neeharikareddyiasacademy at 14:52, 1 October 2025