Two moderate-intensity earthquakes struck the Union Territory of Ladakh in almost four hours on Thursday morning, raising fears and alarms among residents in the Leh region. The first and stronger earthquake was reported to have a magnitude of 5.5 and the second magnitude 4.3. Both were detected in the Leh region and were at a depth of 10 kilometres.
The first earthquake took place at 6:05 am on Thursday morning. The NCS located its epicentre at latitude 36.88 degrees north and longitude 74.402 degrees east. It was centered at a depth of 10 kilometres in the Leh district in Ladakh. It was 5.5 on the magnitude scale and was felt by people in the affected region.
The tremor had residents of Ladakh in a seismically active part of the Himalayan region on alert early in the morning, raising alarms, said one of them. Earthquakes are not unusual in the wider Himalayan belt as there is continuous interaction between tectonic plates, which is one of the reasons for frequent earthquakes in northern India.
The second earthquake happened at 9:54 am, less than four hours after the first earthquake. According to the NCS, the second earthquake was 4.3 in magnitude and the epicentre of the earthquake was at latitude 36.76 degrees north and longitude 75.326 degrees east. It was also recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres in the Leh region.
Two earthquakes in a short span of time understandably created much anxiety among the residents. The second tremor was weaker than the first earthquake, but the fact that it happened right after the 5.5-magnitude earthquake added to the fears of further seismic activity. Residents in earthquake-prone areas are concerned after a first earthquake if there are many smaller earthquakes (aftershocks) that follow a stronger earthquake because of the risk of earthquakes.
There were no immediate reports of life-threatening injuries or damage to buildings after the two earthquakes were reported on Thursday. But they said the earthquake activity is on the radar of authorities and local residents, and the number of earthquakes will continue to be monitored in the region. There was no immediate loss of life or damage to property.
Ladakh’s geography and mountainous terrain make earthquake preparedness even more important. Across the region, earthquakes are a threat and even moderate earthquakes are worrying because structures that are vulnerable can fall, causing structural damage to buildings and disruption in remote areas during the earthquake. So preparing for an earthquake with the help of official advisories and identifying safe locations inside buildings can help keep structures safe in case of damage.
The National Centre for Seismology continuously monitors seismic activity across India and records earthquake parameters such as magnitude, location, depth, and epicentre. This information is needed for earthquake assessment and disaster management to be able to provide information to the public.
The back-to-back earthquakes have once again highlighted the seismic vulnerability of Ladakh and the rest of the Himalayas. While there were no immediate casualties or damage to buildings due to the tremors on Thursday, residents are still cautious with the unusual sequence of two moderate earthquakes in less than 24 hours.
Officials and residents will continue to watch for any further tremors and receive periodic updates from the National Centre for Seismology and local authorities. In earthquake-prone areas such as Ladakh, earthquake-resistant construction, emergency preparedness, and awareness of basic safety procedures are all very important.
