Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hits Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, tremors felt across region

A low-intensity earthquake of magnitude 3.5 struck near Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand early Tuesday morning, triggering panic among residents who rushed out of their homes, officials said.

According to the District Disaster Management Office, the earthquake occurred at 7.25 am , with its epicentre near Kapkot town , around 30 kilometres from the Bageshwar district headquarters . The tremors were felt not only in Bageshwar but also in neighbouring areas, including parts of Haridwar and Rishikesh , causing brief alarm among people.

Bageshwar District Disaster Management Officer Shikha Suyal said there were no reports of loss of life or damage to property so far. She added that local administration teams were monitoring the situation and gathering information from remote areas as a precautionary measure. While tremors are not uncommon in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, which lies in the high‑risk Seismic Zone V, this is one of several minor quakes felt in and around Bageshwar in recent years. Historic data shows that the region has recorded multiple low‑intensity earthquakes over the past decade, including events in previous years, reflecting its ongoing tectonic activity. However, this latest tremor does not appear to be unusually strong or destructive compared with past incidents in the district .

Though the earthquake was mild in intensity, residents reported noticeable tremors, especially in the early morning hours. Authorities have advised people to remain alert in view of the region’s high seismic sensitivity and the possibility of aftershocks , even as normalcy returned shortly after the tremor.

Uttarakhand lies in the Himalayan seismic zone, which is prone to frequent earthquakes due to the continuous movement of tectonic plates. This region is affected by the ongoing convergence of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate , which generates immense tectonic stress and leads to frequent seismic activity.