Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Mild earthquake tremors were felt across Chandigarh and parts of the surrounding tricity region on Saturday evening, triggering temporary anxiety among residents. The seismic activity followed a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern Afghanistan, according to data released by the National Centre for Seismology. The tremors, which occurred around 7:04 p.m. local time, vibrated through high-rise buildings and residential neighborhoods, prompting many individuals to quickly evacuate their homes and offices as a standard safety precaution.
Despite the sudden panic and instances of brief ground shaking that lasted several seconds, municipal authorities and disaster management teams confirmed that there were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage anywhere in Chandigarh, Mohali, or Panchkula. Seismologists noted that the deep-focus earthquake originated at a depth of 215 kilometres beneath the surface in the Hindu Kush mountain range, centered south of Jurm. This substantial depth successfully cushioned the surface impact, preventing widespread destruction despite the massive energy release being felt over a vast geographical area across northern India and neighboring Central Asian nations.
The tricity region sits within Seismic Zone IV, which designates it as a high-damage risk zone vulnerable to strong regional tectonic movements where the Indian and Eurasian plates converge. Local administration departments are continuing to closely monitor the developments and have placed emergency response units on alert to handle potential aftershocks. Officials have urged the public to rely strictly on verified bulletins from the meteorological department and remain calm, noting that building safety protocols and disaster readiness remain active across the territory.
