A 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook the Kashmir Valley early on 2 February 2026, with its epicentre in Budgam (near Srinagar) amplifying tremors across the region.
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in Budgam jolted the Kashmir Valley early Monday. | IANS
An earthquake of moderate intensity shook the Kashmir Valley early Monday morning, triggering panic across several districts as residents rushed outdoors after feeling strong tremors.
The quake, measured at 4.8 on the Richter scale, struck at 5.35 am, according to officials from the disaster management authority. While the magnitude was not high, its impact was felt widely because the epicentre lay in the central Budgam district, well within the Valley.
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Budgam is located around 21 kilometres north of Srinagar, placing the tremor close enough to the capital for doors, windows, and household items to rattle across neighbourhoods.
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People stepped out of their homes in fear as the ground shook briefly. Mobile networks remained functional, allowing residents to check on family members and friends. Authorities said reports on damage or casualties were still being compiled.
Officials explained that earthquakes with epicentres inside the Valley tend to feel stronger, even at lower magnitudes. Monday’s tremor revived memories of earlier seismic disasters in the region.
The shock waves reminded many of the October 8, 2005, earthquake, one of the deadliest in the region’s history. That quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was felt as far away as Tajikistan, Xinjiang and Afghanistan, killing over 80,000 people, injuring 1.38 lakh, and leaving millions homeless.
Long before that, the Valley had witnessed another devastating event, the Baramulla earthquake of May 30, 1885, which measured 6.8. With its epicentre inside Kashmir, it caused severe destruction and claimed more than 3,000 lives.
Experts note that Kashmir, extending up to Zanskar in Ladakh, lies in a seismically active zone, where frequent tremors are a reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, while residents have been advised to remain alert.
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