Strong 6.1 Earthquake In Afghanistan Shakes Up Kashmir

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Afghanistan late on Tuesday night, sending significant tremors across the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, most notably throughout the Kashmir region.

The seismic event, though centred far beyond India’s border, served as a stark reminder of the shared geological vulnerability across South Asia.

Facts and Details

According to initial reports from seismic monitoring agencies, the earthquake’s epicentre was likely located in the Hindu Kush mountainous region of Afghanistan, a deep-seated seismic zone. The Hindu Kush is known for its frequent, often deep-focus quakes, which transmit energy efficiently over vast distances. The tremor occurred at approximately 11.45 pm IST on Tuesday, catching residents off guard as they

slept or prepared for the night.

In Kashmir, people in Srinagar, Jammu, and other major districts reported strong, prolonged shaking that lasted for several seconds, prompting many to rush out of their homes in panic. While Indian authorities confirmed that there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the intensity of the tremors was severe enough to cause widespread alarm.

Geological Context and Regional Vulnerability

The area spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, and North India is one of the world’s most seismically active zones, lying on the powerful Alpide Belt. This intense seismic activity is a direct result of the ongoing, forceful collision of the Indian Tectonic Plate pushing northward against the Eurasian Plate. This immense pressure is accommodated along active fault lines, particularly in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan arc, where the accumulated stress is periodically released in the form of earthquakes.

The repeated tremors underscore the critical need for continued vigilance and adherence to earthquake-resistant building codes, especially in vulnerable regions like Kashmir, which have a history of devastating seismic events.