A massive earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Tibet near the Nepalese border early today, with tremors felt across northern and northeastern India, including Bihar and Assam. The earthquake occurred at 6:35 a.m. IST, approximately 93 kilometres northeast of Lobuche, Nepal, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Nepal, situated along the tectonic collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian plates, frequently experiences earthquakes due to its geologically active location in the Himalayan fault line.
Dramatic visuals shared on social media platforms showed houses swaying violently and ceilings shaking as the tremors struck. Several parts of North India including Bihar and Assam experienced strong tremors due to the quake.
Alarmed residents in Bihar rushed out of their homes and apartments as tremors were reported in districts such as Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, Munger, Araria, Sitamarhi, Gopalganj, Vaishali, Nawada and Nalanda, lasting for about 30 seconds.
Despite the quake’s magnitude, no reports of casualties or property damage have emerged so far, though authorities remain vigilant and continue to monitor the situation.
Two More Aftershocks Reported After Strong Earthquake
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that the initial earthquake at 6:35 a.m. was followed by two aftershocks. The first, measuring 4.7 in magnitude, struck at 7:02 a.m. at a depth of 10 kilometers. The second aftershock, slightly stronger at 4.9 in magnitude, occurred at 7:07 a.m. at a depth of 30 kilometers, further highlighting the seismic activity in the region.
Nepal’s vulnerability to earthquakes has been seen by past disasters, including the devastating 2015 earthquake of magnitude 7.8 near Kathmandu, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives and left thousands injured.
Delhi-NCR, another earthquake-prone region, also experiences frequent seismic activity due to its proximity to the Himalayan fault line. The area trembles every three to four months and often feels the impact of quakes originating in the Himalayan region.
