5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Afghanistan Border, Tremors Felt in Kashmir, Delhi-NCR
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border on Saturday afternoon, shaking parts of northern India, including Kashmir and Delhi-NCR. No casualties have been reported.
The quake occurred at 12:17 PM IST with its epicentre located in the seismically active Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremors, felt across the Kashmir Valley, Delhi, and surrounding areas, caused panic as residents rushed out of buildings.
A video from Srinagar captured people evacuating a building as tremors were felt. “We were in the middle of our shift when everything started shaking. Everyone ran outside in panic,” said Bashir Ahmad, a Srinagar resident.
The NCS confirmed that the earthquake originated at a depth of 86 km beneath the Earth’s surface, reducing the risk of severe surface-level destruction. The coordinates place the epicentre near the mountainous region along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, a known hotspot for tectonic activity.
As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or significant property damage in either India or Afghanistan. Authorities in the affected areas have been put on alert, and disaster response teams remain on standby.
Seismologist Dr. Surendra Pal from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “Quakes of this magnitude and depth are not uncommon in this region. Fortunately, the depth lessens the surface impact.”
The Hindu Kush region, which includes parts of northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan, lies on a major fault line and frequently experiences moderate to strong earthquakes.
Officials have urged people to remain calm but cautious. “We request citizens not to panic and follow safety protocols in the event of aftershocks,” said a spokesperson from the NCS. Further updates are awaited from local administrations.
