Why Deep Afghan Earthquakes Are Felt in Kashmir and Safety Steps for Indians

Recent Afghan quakes and tremors felt in Kashmir

On 5 October 2026 IST, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Afghanistan at 01:57 IST with a depth of 220 km, epicentre about 73 km southeast of Fayzabad, and the National Centre for Seismology reported light tremors felt in parts of Kashmir (source). The quake occurred at 1:57:24 am IST, and although shaking was perceptible in Kashmir, no casualties or property damage were reported.

Earlier, on 1 October 2026, two events hit the Hindu Kush region. A 5.44‑magnitude shallow quake at 10 km depth took place at 06:59 IST, recorded by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (source). A second event, magnitude 5.3, occurred at the same time but at a deeper 126 km depth, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology (source). Both earlier quakes caused no immediate casualties or damage.

Why deep‑focus shaking reaches far

The 4.9‑magnitude event is classified as deep‑focus because its hypocentre lies >200 km underground. Seismic energy from such depths couples efficiently into the mantle, allowing waves to travel hundreds of kilometres with relatively little attenuation. In contrast, the shallow 5.44‑magnitude quake releases energy near the surface, producing stronger shaking close to the epicentre but decaying quickly with distance. This difference explains why residents in Kashmir felt light tremors from the deep Afghan quake while the shallow event, despite its larger magnitude, was not reported as felt there.

Safety guidance for Indian residents

Although tremors were felt, no casualties or property damage have been reported in Kashmir or Afghanistan for these events. Residents should treat any felt shaking as a reminder to review emergency plans: identify safe spots under sturdy furniture, keep an emergency kit with water, food, flashlight and first‑aid supplies, and know evacuation routes. Staying informed through official bulletins from the National Centre for Seismology helps distinguish harmless tremors from hazardous shaking, and avoids unnecessary panic until alerts confirm risk.