4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Budgam, Tremors Felt Across Kashmir

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district early Monday morning, sending tremors across several parts of the Kashmir Valley. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said the quake occurred at around 5:30 am and originated at a depth of 10 kilometres, making it a shallow seismic event.

Strong tremors were felt in Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, and surrounding areas, briefly causing panic among residents. Many people stepped outdoors as a precaution, though no injuries or property damage have been reported so far. At the time of the earthquake, the temperature in the region was recorded at minus 0.9 degrees Celsius.

On the same day, another earthquake was reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to seismic data, the tremor struck at around 3:30 am, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale.

The epicentre was in the Nicobar region, and the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres. No casualties or structural damage were reported from the islands.

Earlier, on January 20, 2026, a mild earthquake of magnitude 2.8 was felt in North Delhi at a depth of 5 kilometres. This marked the second instance of seismic activity in the national capital in recent weeks.

Experts note that earthquakes are caused by the movement of seven major tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s crust. As these plates shift and collide along fault lines, energy is released, resulting in ground vibrations.

Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity closely and have urged citizens to remain calm and follow safety guidelines.