Earthquake jolts areas of Assam, tremors across North East region

Dispur: A moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake shook parts of Assam’s Kokrajhar–Dhubri belt on Saturday afternoon, briefly rattling homes and workplaces across several towns in the region.

According to the National Center for Seismology, the tremor struck at around 2:40 pm IST at a shallow depth of nearly 10 km, with its epicentre located near South Salmara Mancachar in the Dhubri district.

The quake was felt across nearby areas including Dhubri, Bilasipara, Gauripur and Kokrajhar, where residents reported mild but noticeable shaking lasting a few seconds. In many places, people said they felt doors and windows vibrate, while household items and furniture experienced slight movement. Although the tremors created momentary panic, there have been no reports of injuries or structural damage so far.

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Due to its shallow depth, the earthquake’s impact was felt more strongly on the surface, even though the magnitude remained moderate. Shallow quakes tend to release energy closer to populated areas, which often makes them more perceptible across wider regions. In this case, tremors were also reported from parts of neighbouring West Bengal and even isolated locations in Bhutan.

The region lies within a seismically active zone of North-East India, where tectonic movement between major plates regularly produces low to moderate earthquakes. While such events are not uncommon, authorities continue to monitor the area for any aftershocks or further seismic activity following Saturday’s tremor.

Officials have advised residents to remain alert and follow basic safety precautions, although initial assessments indicate no major damage or disruption caused by the quake.