Srinagar – A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Thursday afternoon, sending strong and prolonged tremors rippling across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of North India. The quake, which occurred at approximately 2:50 PM IST, prompted widespread panic, forcing residents to evacuate their homes, offices, and commercial establishments in a hurry.
Epicenter in Afghanistan‘s Hindu Kush Region
The National Center for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the 6.1 magnitude earthquake and reported its epicenter in Afghanistan, at a considerable depth of around 220 kilometers. Experts note that it is this significant depth that allowed the seismic waves to travel over a vast distance, causing the palpable shaking in cities hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter.
Widespread Panic Across the Kashmir Valley
In Kashmir, the experience was particularly jarring. From Srinagar to Kupwara and Baramulla to Anantnag, the ground swayed for what many described as an unnerving 30 to 40 seconds. Eyewitnesses in Srinagar recounted scenes of chaos as people poured out onto open streets and parks, their faces etched with fear.
“I was in a meeting on the third floor of my office building in Lal Chowk when everything started to sway violently,” said Aamir Bhatt, a local businessman. “The first jolt was sharp, followed by a sustained rocking motion. We all just grabbed our phones and ran downstairs. It was a frightening reminder of the 2005 quake.”
Social media platforms were immediately flooded with videos and personal accounts. Clips showing ceiling fans and light fixtures swinging wildly served as a testament to the intensity of the tremors felt across the valley.
Tremors Reach Delhi-NCR and Pakistan
The seismic waves didn’t stop at the valley’s borders. The earthquake‘s reach was felt across North India, with reports of mild to moderate tremors coming in from Delhi-NCR, Chandigarh, and parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The quake was also strongly felt across the border in major Pakistani cities, including Islamabad, Peshawar, and Lahore.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of significant damage to property or loss of life from Jammu and Kashmir. Disaster management officials have stated that they are on high alert and are currently assessing the situation across the union territory.
A Reminder of the Region’s Seismic Vulnerability
This event is a stark reminder of the region’s precarious position in one of the world’s most seismically active zones. The Hindu Kush mountain range sits at the complex junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The continuous collision of these plates builds immense stress, which is released in the form of earthquakes.
While Kashmir has thankfully been spared any major catastrophe today, the jolt serves as a crucial wake-up call for a region that falls under the highest-risk Seismic Zone-V, underscoring the critical importance of preparedness.
