A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck central Assam in the early hours of Monday, sending waves of panic across large parts of the northeastern region. Despite the widespread tremors, authorities confirmed that no casualties or damage to property were reported.
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred at 4.17 am, with its epicentre located in Morigaon district on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. The seismic activity originated at a depth of 50 kilometres, at latitude 26.37° North and longitude 92.29° East.
The tremor was felt across a wide swathe of Assam, including districts such as Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, East and West Karbi Anglong, Hojai, Dima Hasao, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar and Goalpara. Several districts on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra—among them Darrang, Sonitpur, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Lakhimpur—also reported noticeable shaking.
Beyond Assam, residents in parts of central and western Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura experienced tremors. Shaking was also reported from areas of West Bengal, as well as from neighbouring Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of China.
The sudden quake jolted many people awake, prompting residents in several areas to rush out of their homes and gather in open spaces as a precaution. Emergency services and district authorities said the situation remained under control, with no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
India’s northeastern region falls within one of the country’s most seismically active zones and is highly vulnerable to earthquakes. Officials said they continue to monitor developments and advised residents to remain calm while adhering to standard earthquake safety guidelines.
