A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region today at around 9:50 pm, sending tremors across Delhi-NCR and several parts of North India. The quake, which originated in Badakhshan province at a depth of 150 km, was felt strongly in urban areas, causing residents to report noticeable shaking.
In Delhi, high-rise buildings swayed, with residents experiencing a strong jolt that lasted for a few seconds. Baldev Chand, a local resident, described the experience, saying, “I felt a strong jolt which lasted for a few seconds.” Another user from Delhi noted, “The intensity of the tremors was so high that fans and beds in people’s homes began to shake.”
The tremors were not limited to Delhi; cities including Noida, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Poonch, Srinagar, and Udhampur also reported significant shaking. In Pakistan, residents in Islamabad and Peshawar felt the effects as well, highlighting the quake’s broad reach.
Despite the earthquake’s moderate classification, it is capable of causing noticeable shaking across large distances, which was evident from the widespread reports of tremors. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties, although the situation remains under observation.
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes due to its geographical location along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This vulnerability is compounded by the country’s ongoing struggles with natural disasters, as noted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Vaishali Poddar, another resident, expressed her surprise at the intensity, stating, “I’ve never felt tremors this strong before.” As the region processes the event, officials are monitoring the situation closely.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full impact of the quake, but the immediate reactions from residents indicate a significant experience across the affected areas. The earthquake serves as a reminder of the region’s seismic activity and the potential risks associated with it.
