Kishanganj: Residents of Bihar’s Kishanganj district experienced earthquake tremors late Sunday night, triggering panic in several areas as people rushed out of their homes. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far.
According to residents, the tremors were felt at around 11:06 p.m. and lasted for nearly 10 seconds. The earthquake was experienced across various parts of the district, including Kishanganj town, Bahadurganj, Thakurganj, and Terhagachh.
As the shaking began, many residents who were preparing to sleep or had already gone to bed hurriedly stepped out of their homes and gathered on roads and in open spaces. Despite the panic, authorities have not received any reports of loss of life or damage to property.
Meera Sinha, a resident of Kishanganj, recalled the experience, saying, “We were asleep and it was raining heavily outside. Suddenly, we felt the bed shaking. We got scared and immediately rushed out of the house. After a while, everything became normal and we returned indoors.”
According to the Android Earthquake Alerts System, the earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 5 kilometres from Punakha in Bhutan. The quake measured 5.3 on the Richter scale and struck at 11:06 p.m.
The tremors were reportedly felt across several countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. Within India, the strongest impact was reported from the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur. Tremors were also felt in border districts of Bihar, with Kishanganj among the most affected areas in the state.
Residents reported seeing household objects shake during the tremors, with water in glasses rippling noticeably and ceiling fans swaying for several seconds.
Why Do Earthquakes Occur?
Earth’s surface is made up of seven major tectonic plates and several smaller plates that are constantly moving. When these plates collide or slide against one another, stress builds up along their boundaries. Once the accumulated pressure exceeds the strength of the rocks, energy is suddenly released in the form of seismic waves, causing an earthquake.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, but no aftershocks or damage have been reported from Kishanganj district as of Monday morning.
