Assam – A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook central Assam in the early hours of Monday, sparking panic across the northeastern region. The tremors, which struck at 4.17 a.m., sent residents rushing out of their homes, though officials confirmed there was no major damage to property.
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the epicentre was located in Morigaon district on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. The quake originated at a depth of 50 kilometres, at latitude 26.37° North and longitude 92.29° East.
Two residents of Morigaon district sustained serious head injuries while attempting to flee their homes during the tremors. The injured, identified as Neeraj Kumar and Jaymati Deuri, were rescued by neighbours and later admitted to Morigaon Civil Hospital. Doctors said both are stable but remain under observation.
The sudden quake triggered widespread alarm, with strong tremors felt across several districts including Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, Hojai, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and the Barak Valley. The shockwaves were also experienced in neighbouring states—Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura—and as far afield as West Bengal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Authorities stressed that while no fatalities or large-scale destruction were reported, the incident underscores the vulnerability of the region, which lies in one of the country’s most active seismic zones. Disaster management teams remain on alert, and residents have been urged to stay calm and adhere to safety protocols in case of aftershocks.
