5.4 magnitude quake hits J-K's Doda, tremors felt in parts of north India
Doda/Bhaderwah (J-K) (PTI): A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit Doda in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon, forcing people in parts of the union territory to rush out of their homes in panic and causing damage to some buildings, officials said.
The tremors were felt across Delhi and other parts of north India, and in neighbouring Pakistan.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said the 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck the region at 1:33 pm. Its epicentre was in Doda.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 6 kilometres, it said.
In Doda's Bhaderwah town, a few buildings developed cracks due to the tremors.
The false ceiling of a ward of the sub-district hospital collapsed.
Some of the debris fell on patients recuperating in the hospital ward, an official said.
The patients have been moved to safety and are being treated in an emergency ward of the hospital, he said.
Azim Malik, a resident of Ghata Bhaderwah, said his house was damaged due to the tremors.
"It was a strong earthquake and cracks have developed in my house," Malik told PTI.
Panic-stricken schoolchildren gathered in fields in the Bhaderwah valley and teachers were seen consoling a few of them who were sobbing.
Officials in Doda said they are assessing the damage caused by the earthquake.
Tremors were also felt in Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, about 150 km from Doda.
"Things in my kitchen were shaking due to the tremors," said Nandini, a resident of Shimla.
The earthquake was also felt in parts of Punjab and Haryana but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
"The tremors were mild and I felt them while I was sitting on a chair," said Baldev Chand, a resident of Chandigarh.
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Former diplomat, politicians come out in support of FS Misri after he faces online trolling
New Delhi (PTI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who faced trolling on social media in the wake of India and Pakistan reaching an understanding on May 10 to halt all military actions, received support from veteran diplomat Nirupama Menon Rao and politicians Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav.
Samajwadi Party chief Yadav wrote a long post on X in Hindi and said, such statements break the morale of honest officers who work day and night dedicated to the country.
"It is the government's responsibility to make decisions - not individual officers. Some anti-social criminal elements are openly crossing all limits of abusive language against the officer and his family, but neither the BJP government nor any of its ministers are coming forward to protect his honour and respect or discussing possible action against those who make such unwanted posts," wrote Yadav.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries teetering on the edge of a full-scale war.
Making the announcement on Saturday evening, Foreign Secretary Misri said the director generals of military operations of India and Pakistan agreed on the understanding during a call on Saturday afternoon, and the next talks are scheduled at 12 noon on May 12.
The announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump in a surprise social media post claimed that the talks between the two sides were "mediated" by the US.
Former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon called the trolling of the senior diplomat "utterly shameful" and said it "crosses every line of decency"
"It's utterly shameful to troll Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his family over the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement. A dedicated diplomat, Misri has served India with professionalism and resolve, and there is no ground whatsoever for his vilification.
"Doxxing his daughter and abusing his loved ones crosses every line of decency. This toxic hate must stop—stand united behind our diplomats, not tear them down. #StopTrollingMisri #SupportDiplomats #VikramMisri #IndianDiplomacy #NoToDoxxing," she posted on X.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Owaisi also came out strongly in support of Misri on Sunday.
"Mr Vikram Misri is a decent, honest, hard-working diplomat working tirelessly for our nation. Our civil servants work under the executive this must be remembered & they shouldn't be blamed for the decisions taken by the executive or any political leadership running Watan E Aziz," he posted on X.
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