DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE IN CASHMERE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1361, 4 July 1885, Page 3

DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE IN CASHMERE.

Despatches from Bombay, dated June 2nd, state that news has reached there of a disastrous earthquake in Cashmere. Shocks began on Sunday, and have continued at intervals of ten 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 ef the remaining buildings escaped injury. The people became panic-stricken shortly after the disturbance began, and fled from the city, taking refuge in boats and tents and open field*. It is feared the loss of life will be heavy, and the latest information from there calls for aid. The distress is very great. The terrified inhabitants are now camped in the fields that surround the town. Srinagar is near the centre of the vale of Cashmere, and the whole country has experienced terrible earthquakes. The damage caused throughout is enormous, the loss of cattle alone being very great. The people seem to be helpless, and succour is being sent them as rapidly as the Indian authorities can organise relief. Many of the houses, on account of the large rents in, the walls, must be razed to the ground. The shocks have not yet ceased, 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 little town of Soghar, was demolished, and 200 persons killed, A despatch from Srinagar, June sth, gives the number killed and wounded as follows: —Killed 87, wounded 100. The unofficial report*, however, are of such a character as to make it more than likely that the earthquaka will prove even more disastrous than the first despatches. It is stated that whole cities and towns are destroyed.