EARTHQUAKE IN INDIA

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5557, 7 April 1905, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE IN INDIA

PANIC AT LAHORE. LOSS OF LIFE~ANI> PROPERTY. CALCUTTA, April 5. A violent earthquake was experienced throughout the whole of Upper India. It was especially severe from Agra to Simla. A terrible panic was ■ created at Lahore, where the people are now camping in the fields. , The towers of the Golden Mosque have fallen. Eleven shocks were felt altogether. Much damage was don© at Simla, the Mussooree Hill Station being completely destroyed. \ Many lives were lost. Lahore, capital of the Punjab province, is an important railway centre. The town, the population of which numbers about two hundred thousand, is surrounded by a brick wall 16ft high. The fort occupies a commanding position, and' near it are the mosque of Anrungzebe and Runjeet Singh’s tomb. Under the Mogul Eta-mire the city, which dates from the seventh century, had a population of over a million. The remains of the magnificent buildings erected by the Mogal emperors are still considerable, as well as Jahangir’s wonderful wardens at Shadra and Shalimar. For the past forjv years Simla, which occupies a beautiAl situation on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, has been the summer headquarters of the British Government in India. There are two vioe-regal residences, handsome Government buildings, and a fine town hall. The permanent, or winter population is about fifteen thousand, but this number is very largely augmented during the summer months.