On the afternoon of Monday, January 19, 2026, Union Territory Ladakh and portions of Jammu and Kashmir were shaken by a massive earthquake in an iconic earthquake event. Experiencing the quakes, a flood of cold water from the high-altitude mountain areas gave local residents and visitors great fear.
Seismic Details: The Bigger Picture
The NCS reported that the earthquake started at 1:12 PM IST. It had a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter Scale, making it one of the more powerful quakes that has been recorded in the sector in the past months. The epicentre was at a depth of 10 km from the Earth’s surface, about 100 km north-northeast from Leh. Because of the shallow quake, those vibrations were felt deeply in Leh and Kargil, as well as in parts of the Kashmir Valley like Srinagar.
Panic and Response in Ladakh
When the ground shook for almost 15 to 20 seconds, residents in Leh fled home and shops into public spaces. As tourists are settling in the region to host winter festivals, many told me they felt “intense swaying” in their hotels. Preliminary Assessment Initial reports from the Ladakh administration indicate that there is no immediate loss of life. The authorities are currently observing the Leh-Manali Highway and the Zoji La Pass for any landslides or rockfalls caused by the vibrations.
Communications: Mobile and internet services in some isolated sections of North Ladakh were temporarily interrupted but they are now being restored.
The Himalayan Seismic Zone
Ladakh, like the rest of the Himalaya region, is classified as a Seismic Zone V and IV, which is the zone most prone to large-scale earthquakes and rare natural events. That's because of the ongoing tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Though a 5.7 magnitude quake is serious, the sparse population density at the epicentre usually helps minimize human casualties, seismologists have said. But the potential for aftershocks still exists quite high.
Safety Advisory
The local government administration has been advising residents:
- Stay outside if they are living in old or mud-brick structures.
- Stay out of hilly roads for a few hours debris could fall onto them.
- Prepare emergency kits in readiness for even larger aftershocks.
