Maharashtra’s Hingoli district was rocked by two earthquake tremors in a few hours on Saturday morning, October 3, which raised concern among residents in parts of the district. The stronger of the two was magnitude 4.5, and the first was magnitude 3.3. There have been no injuries or material damage caused by the earthquake in the district.
According to officials from the district disaster management cell, the first earthquake occurred around 7:46 am. The 3.3-magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of about 7 kilometres and was centred at the Gadhala village in the Aundha Nagnath tehsil. The shaking was felt, and there was a rumbling sound in the area, and some villages were in a panic.
The first earthquake was followed by a stronger 4.5-magnitude jolt about two hours later. The second earthquake was felt in many parts of the Hingoli district, and residents reported shaking. Residents in Pimpaldari and areas of Aundha Nagnath tehsil were aware of the rumbling sound before the second earthquake. Despite the intensity of the second earthquake, officials said there were no immediate reports of injuries, deaths or structural damage.
The latest seismic activity has brought the history of tremors in the region into focus again. According to reports, parts of Hingoli have experienced intermittent earthquakes for a few years now. The district had also reported stronger tremors in 2026. On July 9, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Hingoli, and on July 11, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake was reported. Some homes in affected areas were also damaged by those earlier earthquakes, said the report.
Residents were particularly alarmed because the latest tremors came as they occurred in a sudden succession. The rumbling sounds heard by villagers only added to the sense of panic, but authorities advised calm and to remain aware. The district administration is tracking the situation after the tremors and has advised residents not to panic about earthquakes.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences maintains India’s official earthquake monitoring network and publishes details of seismic events recorded across the country. Hingoli has had several notable earthquakes this year, including a 4.6-magnitude earthquake on July 9 at a depth of 10 km recorded by NCS. The NCS has also recorded a 4.7-magnitude Hingoli earthquake on April 11, 2026.
Earthquakes in the magnitude range recorded in Hingoli can be felt by people, particularly if the epicentre is relatively shallow. However, the impact of an earthquake is not as much on the magnitude but on the distance from the epicentre, local geological conditions and the quality of structures in the affected area. A magnitude reading, by itself, does not tell us if an earthquake will damage anything.
Tremors of this nature are also the cause of earthquake preparedness in areas with frequent earthquakes. You should be on high alert at the time of an earthquake, stay away from windows and unstable objects and follow local protocol, too, when it happens, said a report from the World Health Organisation. You should also avoid entering buildings that have been badly damaged.
No casualties or property damage have been detected so far after Saturday's tremors. But the affected parts of Hingoli are still on high alert after the two earthquakes within a short time. The administration will monitor the region for more seismic activity and keep the people calm, as well as follow official advice.
