Source NDTV
NEW DELHI / KABUL – A powerful earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan late Friday night, sending strong tremors across several countries, including India, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
The seismic event, which occurred at approximately 9:45 PM IST on April 3, 2026, triggered panic in the Indian capital and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR). Residents in high-rise apartments reported ceiling fans swaying and furniture shaking for several seconds, prompting many to rush into open spaces.
Key Earthquake Details
According to the National Center for Seismology and international monitoring agencies, the quake was centered in a remote region of Afghanistan.
Detail Information
Magnitude 5.9
Epicenter Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan (near Jurm)
Depth 175 km (Deep-focus)
Coordinates 36.52° N, 71.01° E
Time 21:45 IST (16:12 UTC)
Impact Across North India
While the epicenter was hundreds of kilometers away, the depth of the earthquake allowed the seismic waves to travel vast distances. In India, tremors were felt most intensely in:
Jammu & Kashmir: Residents in Srinagar and Kupwara reported shaking that lasted between 10 to 15 seconds.
Delhi-NCR: Strong jolts were felt in New Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad.
Punjab & Haryana: Reports of tremors came in from Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Zirakpur.
“I was watching TV when the sofa started vibrating. We didn’t wait—we took the stairs immediately,” said Ajay Kumar, a resident of an 11th-floor apartment in Punjab.
Regional Situation
In Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the intensity slightly higher at 6.1 magnitude. Shaking was felt in Islamabad, Lahore, and parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Despite the widespread panic, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage in India or Pakistan. Experts suggest that the earthquake’s significant depth (175 km) likely mitigated the potential for catastrophic destruction on the surface.
Authorities in the affected regions remain on alert for aftershocks, though the frequency of major secondary tremors remains low for deep-focus quakes of this nature.
