Tremors In North India As Earthquake Of 5.0 Magnitude Strikes Nepal

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on Friday evening, days after a powerful quake rattled Myanmar and parts of Thailand. Tremors from the Nepal earthquake were reportedly felt across the Delhi-NCR region. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 7:52 pm local time and had its epicentre at a depth of 20 kilometres.

The tremors in Nepal were recorded just a day after a 2.6-magnitude earthquake shook Maharashtra’s Solapur district on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the Myanmar earthquake has risen to 3,085, according to the Associated Press, quoting Myanmar’s military-led government. Another 4,715 individuals have been injured, and 341 are still reported missing.

“The situation remains critical as search and rescue efforts continue,” the Myanmar military said in a brief statement. Humanitarian organisations are engaged in providing medical aid and temporary shelters to survivors.

120th Anniversary Of Devastating 1905 Kangra Earthquake In Himachal Pradesh

Marking a grim coincidence in seismic history, April 4 also observed the 120th anniversary of the devastating 1905 Kangra earthquake in Himachal Pradesh. According to the National Institute of Disaster Management, the 7.8-magnitude quake claimed over 20,000 lives and destroyed around 100,000 buildings.

The earthquake struck at 5:20 am on that day, described as a “black day in the Himalayan history.” The institute emphasised the importance of learning from such catastrophic events to ensure a safer future.

The 1905 earthquake caused severe damage across the Kangra region, including St. John’s Church, where many British officials were buried. Field records from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology located in McLeodganj, indicate that the region has experienced several quakes since 1905.

Notably, a 5.0-magnitude quake struck on June 15, 1978, followed by a 5.7-magnitude tremor on April 26, 1986. Like Kangra, many areas across Himachal Pradesh—including Shimla, Kasauli, Manali, Palampur, Mandi, and Solan—remain highly vulnerable due to widespread illegal construction on steep slopes.

Experts have repeatedly warned that such structures are unlikely to withstand a high-intensity quake and could collapse “like a house of cards.”

In addition to earthquakes, Himachal Pradesh has faced recurring natural disasters in recent years, such as cloudbursts and flash floods. The rising human activity, especially near rivers and water channels, has been cited as a major contributor to the escalating loss of life.

Despite the state being categorised under high seismic zones IV and V, local authorities have yet to take adequate action, even as most popular tourist spots continue to lie in regions of severe seismic vulnerability.

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