DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE

Dunstan Times, Issue 1219, 10 July 1885, Page 3

DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE

Despatches from Bombay (Jane 2) state that news has just reached them of a disastrous earthquake in Cashmere. Shocks began on Sunday, and have continued , at intervals ot 10 minutes ever since. The shocks are very severe At Srinagar, the capital of Cashmere, the barracks, in which several hundred soldiers were quartered was completely destroyed, collapsing so suddenly that nearly half of them were killed and some injured. A portion of the city was demolished, while very few of the remaining building cs caped injur}. The people became panic stricken shortly after the disturbance began, and fled from the city, taking refuge in boats and tents and open fields. It is feared the loss of life will be heavy, as tho latest information from there calls for aid. The distress is very great. The terrified inhabitants are now camped in the fields that surround tho town, Srimgar is near tho centre of the vale of Cashmere, aud the whole country has experienced terrible earthquakes. The damage caused throughout is enormous, the amount of cattle alone being very great. The people seerii to be helpless, and succour is being sent them as rapidly as tho Indian authorities can

organise relief. Many of the housni on account of the large rents in the walls must be ruz id to the ground. The shocks Lave nob yet ceised, and this fact greatly retards the work of removing the debris, and it is feared many must perish before they can be reached by the relief party. The mosque in the litt'e town of Sogluir, 20 miles north of Srinagar, was dome fished, and 200 persons killed. A despa’ch from Srinagar, June 5, gives the numhei killed and wounded as folfows; —Killed, 87 ; wounded, 100.

The unofficial reports, however, are of such a character as to make it move than likely that the earthquake will prove even more disastrous than the first despatches. It is stated that whole cities and towns are destroyed.