No damage or casualties reported as tremors shake parts of North India and Pakistan
Tremors from a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border were felt across several regions of northern India and Pakistan on Saturday morning, causing brief panic but no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the earthquake occurred at 11:47 am at a depth of 94 kilometres. The epicentre was located near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region, which is known for frequent seismic activity.
The tremors were felt across Jammu, Srinagar, Punjab, parts of Delhi-NCR, and widely across Pakistan, including cities like Islamabad and Lahore. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre confirmed the seismic activity, adding that it was the second earthquake to hit the region in a week.
Tremors Felt Across North India
Residents in Jammu and Kashmir reported sudden, strong shaking that lasted a few seconds. ANI shared visuals of people evacuating buildings in Srinagar. A local resident said, “I felt it clearly. I was at work when suddenly my chair started shaking.”
In Delhi-NCR and parts of Punjab, people rushed out of offices and homes, fearing aftershocks. Social media was flooded with reactions, with users confirming the tremors in various cities and expressing relief that there was no apparent damage.
Widespread Impact in Pakistan
Pakistan also experienced widespread tremors. According to ARY News and local media, the quake was felt in cities including Peshawar, Lahore, Mardan, Kohat, Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Sargodha, and Gilgit. In Azad Kashmir, Kotli and surrounding areas experienced significant shaking.
Despite the widespread tremors, no injuries or structural damage were reported in either India or Pakistan as of now.
Earthquake History in the Region
The region around the Hindu Kush mountain range, including Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, is highly seismically active due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Pakistan in particular is prone to frequent earthquakes. The deadliest quake in recent history struck in 2005, killing more than 74,000 people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and surrounding areas.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, as aftershocks are possible following a moderate quake of this depth and magnitude.
Social Media Reactions
On X (formerly Twitter), users from Kashmir, Chandigarh, and other parts of northern India posted their experiences. One wrote, “A strong earthquake just struck Kashmir — it was sudden and intense. It really shook us. Hoping everyone is safe.”
Another user posted, “Did anyone else feel the earthquake?” as people scrambled online to confirm their experiences with others.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, though no emergency alerts or evacuations have been issued.
Sources By Agencies
