Afghanistan 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Tremors Felt Across Northern India

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan on Saturday evening, sending strong tremors across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and Jammu and Kashmir. The seismic event triggered widespread panic across northern India, forcing residents to evacuate buildings, though authorities reported no immediate casualties or structural damage.

The powerful earthquake struck at 7:04 pm IST, with its epicentre located at a depth of 215 km, according to data released by the National Centre for Seismology.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the precise epicentre 43 km south of Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan.

Strong tremors shook Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ludhiana, Noida, Srinagar, Udhampur, and Dehradun, alongside various other northern locations.

Occupants of high-rise residential towers in the sectors of Chandigarh and neighboring areas of Mohali witnessed distinct shaking that lasted for several seconds, causing light fixtures to sway and household items to rattle. Terrified citizens quickly evacuated buildings to reach open ground.

Up to the publication of this report, local administrators received no reports of injuries or structural failures from Chandigarh, Mohali, or Panchkula. Emergency services immediately went on high alert while government authorities established close monitoring of the situation.

Civil authorities instructed citizens to maintain composure, avoid utilizing elevators, and relocate to open spaces if any subsequent aftershocks occur.

Second major Afghan tremor in weeks

The earthquake on Saturday represents the second major seismic disturbance coming out of the Hindu Kush zone to vibrate through the Tricity area in less than four weeks.

On June 5, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border caused massive panic throughout the territory, forcing residents—especially those in vertical apartment complexes—to desert their premises and assemble on public roads and open parks.

The seismic event on Saturday recorded a higher magnitude, but its notably deeper focal origin mitigated the intensity of the surface vibrations.

The substantial depth of 215 km diminished the violence of the shaking at ground level, yet the resulting shockwaves remained strong enough to be felt across northern India, including parts of Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana.

Why the Hindu Kush keeps shaking north India

The seismic activity originated inside the mountainous Hindu Kush territory of Afghanistan, a geography recognized for generating frequent deep-focus earthquakes.

Afghanistan remains among the globally prominent seismically volatile nations, situated directly over the tectonic convergence of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This ongoing collision builds massive geological strain and creates complex fault networks, specifically within the Hindu Kush and Herat zones.

Deep-focus earthquakes originating from this specific zone remain a constant structural feature affecting northern India. The energy released travels over immense geographical distances with minimized but highly noticeable force—sufficient to disturb communities across Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and the National Capital Region without causing catastrophic destruction near the origin point.

Chandigarh and the surrounding Tricity region are positioned inside a highly sensitive seismic zone. Chandigarh and northern Punjab are mapped within Seismic Zone IV—which the Bureau of Indian Standards classifies as a High Damage Risk Zone—highlighting the critical requirement for executing earthquake-resistant engineering across the rapidly growing urban landscape.

Wider seismic context

The earthquake on Saturday occurred during a phase of elevated regional seismic activity.

Within the 24 hours starting June 26, Pakistan registered four separate earthquakes, which included a 5.5 magnitude tremor hitting Balochistan. Just one day prior, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred near eastern Honshu in Japan.

Earthquake at a glance

Time: 7:04 pm IST, June 28

Epicentre: 43 km south of Jurm, northeastern Afghanistan

Depth: 215 km (deep-focus quake; cushioned surface impact)

Felt across: Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ludhiana, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi-NCR, Punjab and Haryana

Damage/Casualties: None reported; authorities on alert

History of Hindu Kush Seismic Activity

The Hindu Kush mountain range has historically been the epicenter of some of South Asia’s most disruptive earthquakes. Because the Indian plate continuously pushes northward into the Eurasian plate at a rate of several centimeters per year, the region accumulates massive stress. Deep-focus earthquakes, typically occurring more than 70 km below the earth’s surface, are characteristic of this territory. While these deep quakes rarely cause the catastrophic surface ruptures associated with shallow tremors, their energy bypasses localized dampening and radiates across thousands of kilometers, frequently unsettling high-rise buildings in major northern Indian metropolitan centers.

FAQs

What was the magnitude and origin of the earthquake?

The earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and originated 43 km south of Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan, striking at a depth of 215 km.

Which areas in India felt the tremors?

The vibrations were felt widely across northern India, including Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ludhiana, Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Why did a 6.2 magnitude earthquake cause no damage in India?

The earthquake was a deep-focus event occurring 215 km below the surface. This substantial depth cushioned the impact of the shockwaves, weakening their destructive energy by the time they traveled to the surface in northern India.

What seismic zone does Chandigarh fall under?

Chandigarh and large portions of northern Punjab fall under Seismic Zone IV, which is categorized as a High Damage Risk Zone by the Bureau of Indian Standards.