Earthquake today: Magnitude 5 quake hits Nepal, tremors felt in North India

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5 on the Richter Scale struck Nepal on Friday, April 4. Several social media users from North India also said they felt the tremors.

According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake hit Nepal, India's neighbour, at approximately 8 p.m. IST.

Netizens responded to NCS tweet informing of the Nepal earthquake, saying that they felt it in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur. Some even reported the tremors in Bihar's Patna.

“I felt it in Gorakhpur,” a social media user said.

“Felt in Patna too,” added another user.

In the past few days, the Himalayas have witnessed several earthquakes, renewing attention on the seismic vulnerability of the Himalayan belt.

On April 1, a moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale jolted the Leh region of Ladakh, causing concern among residents but fortunately resulting in no reported casualties or significant damage.

The Leh earthquake comes on the heels of a significant 7.7 magnitude quake that struck the Myanmar-Thailand border region last week.

The Thai Meteorological Department reported the earthquake as an 8.2 magnitude jolt. The epicentre was located in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, near Mandalay, and the quake resulted in significant damage and loss of life in both countries.

‘The Himalayan region requires constant monitoring’

Geologists have long warned of the potential for major earthquakes in the Himalayas, a tectonically active zone, where the Indian and Eurasian plates continue their slow-motion collision.

Dr Anita Sharma, a seismologist at the Indian Institute of Himalayan Geology, commented on the recent events: “While these earthquakes are not directly related, they serve as a reminder of the complex tectonic forces at play across the Asian continent. The Himalayan region, in particular, requires constant monitoring and preparedness.”

The occurrence of these seismic events has prompted calls for enhanced disaster preparedness and stricter building codes in earthquake-prone areas. Local governments across the Himalayan states are reviewing their emergency response protocols, with a focus on improving public awareness and infrastructure resilience.