A strong earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck the northwestern Kashmir region on Sunday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed. The tremor was felt across parts of Leh&ndash;Ladakh, an area that falls within the highly active Himalayan seismic belt.
According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 11:51:14 am IST, with its epicentre located in the Leh&ndash;Ladakh region. The quake originated at a depth of 171 kilometres, classifying it as a deep-focus earthquake.
Despite the intensity, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property. Local authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and urged residents to remain cautious in case of aftershocks.
Seismologists note that while shallow earthquakes tend to be more destructive due to stronger surface shaking, deeper earthquakes like this one are often felt over wider areas but generally cause less damage.
The tremor comes amid increased seismic activity in the broader region. A day earlier, an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck Afghanistan. In recent days, Afghanistan has recorded multiple tremors, including a 4.2-magnitude quake on January 15 at a depth of 96 km and a 3.8-magnitude earthquake on January 14 at a depth of 90 km, according to NCS data.
The Himalayan region remains one of the most earthquake-prone zones in the world due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Deep-focus quake jolts Kashmir region; no casualties reported so far

Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Hits Leh–Ladakh

Deep-focus quake jolts Kashmir region; no casualties reported so far

January 19, 2026 | 12:39 IST