Guwahati: A powerful earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook several parts of the northeast on Sunday evening, triggering panic across Assam and neighbouring states.
According to officials, the quake struck at 4:41 pm with its epicentre located in Assam’s Udalguri district, close to the Assam-Bhutan border.
The tremor originated at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometres, making it widely felt across the region.
Though no casualties or major damage to property were reported immediately, residents in Guwahati and other towns rushed out of their homes and offices as buildings swayed for several seconds.
Reports of strong vibrations also came in from parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland.
Union Minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal shared his concern on social media, describing it as a “major earthquake in Assam” and offering prayers for the safety of all affected.
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The northeastern region, particularly Assam, falls in seismic Zone V, the country’s highest-risk category.
Experts from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) have often cautioned that the area’s tectonic setting — where the Indian plate continues to collide with the Eurasian plate — makes it one of the most earthquake-prone belts in the world.
While Sunday’s tremor did not result in destruction, officials said monitoring will continue to assess aftershock activity and any delayed impact.
