Srinagar, Feb 2: A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Baramulla district of north Kashmir early Monday morning sending waves of fear through Kashmir and prompting residents to flee their homes in panic.
According to officials from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the tremor, which hit at 5:35 am, lasted nearly 20 seconds and was felt across multiple regions including Pattan, Charar-e-Sharif, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Shopian. There were no reports of damage or casualties, but the sudden shaking shattered the quiet of the night, evoking memories of past seismic disasters in this highly vulnerable region.
The epicenter was pinpointed in the Pattan area of Baramulla, approximately 10 km northeast of the tourist resort Gulmarg, at a shallow depth of 10 km.
Initial assessments pegged the magnitude at 4.6, but it was later revised to 4.7 by the NCS, with some sources, including the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), reporting it as high as 4.8.
The quakeís shallow depth amplified its intensity on the surface, causing household items to rattle and beds to sway, which fueled widespread alarm. Eyewitness accounts painted a vivid picture of chaos as families rushed outdoors into the overcast streets.
ìI was deep in sleep when the ground started rumbling like a truck passing by. My first thought was an explosion or something worse. I grabbed my children and ran out barefoot ñ the whole neighborhood was out there, reciting prayers in the dark,î said Abdul Rehman, a 45-years-old shopkeeper from Pattan, the epicenterís ground zero.
In nearby Sopore town, the shaking was described as particularly intense. ìIt felt like the house was dancing. We didnít wait to see if it would stop ñ my wife and I herded the family outside, hearts pounding. Itís scary how quickly panic sets in, especially remembering the 2005 quake,î shared Fatima Begum, a homemaker in her 50s, referring to the devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, that flattened large parts of Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, killing thousands and causing widespread infrastructure damage.
Srinagar also buzzed with activity post-tremor.
Social media lit up with posts from residents sharing their experiences, many admitting to rushing out in fear.
ìThe bed shook for what felt like forever. I thought the roof might come down. Everyone in our lane was outside within seconds, calling out to check on neighbors,î recounted Tariq Ahmed, a young professional from the city outskirts.
Such reactions underscore the psychological toll of living in Seismic Zone V, as classified by the Bureau of Indian Standardsí National Seismic Hazard Map released in November 2025, which places the entire Himalayan arc, including Kashmir, at high risk.
