: Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Punjab, Chandigarh and several parts of North India on Friday evening after a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.
The earthquake was recorded at approximately 9:46 PM IST. According to seismic observations, the epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush mountain range, a region known for frequent deep-focus earthquakes caused by ongoing tectonic activity beneath the Earth’s surface.
Tremors were reported from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ludhiana, Srinagar, Udhampur, Dehradun and several surrounding areas. Residents described noticeable shaking inside homes and office buildings, with ceiling fixtures, hanging objects and household items swaying for several seconds.
As a precaution, many people living in residential complexes and high-rise buildings moved to open spaces and remained outdoors until the tremors subsided. Despite the widespread impact, authorities reported no immediate casualties or significant structural damage in the affected areas.
Seismologists noted that the earthquake originated at a depth of approximately 75 kilometres, allowing seismic waves to travel across a vast geographical region. Earthquakes occurring at such depths are often felt far from their epicentre while causing relatively limited surface damage.
The Hindu Kush region remains one of the world’s most active seismic zones due to the continuous interaction between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. As a result, earthquakes originating in this area are frequently felt across northern India, particularly in Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi-NCR.
Authorities have advised residents to remain alert, stay calm and follow standard safety procedures in the event of any aftershoc
