A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Leh on Monday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.
The tremor was recorded at 11:51 am and originated at a depth of 171 km beneath the surface. “EQ of M: 5.7, on: 19/01/2026 11:51:14 IST, Lat: 36.71 N, Long: 74.32 E, Depth: 171 km, Location: Leh, Ladakh,” the NCS said.
Strong tremors were felt across the entire region, but there were no immediate reports of infrastructure damage or loss of life.
Authorities in the union territory said the situation was being closely monitored and advised residents to remain alert, particularly as the risk of aftershocks remains high.
Ladakh is highly prone to seismic activity and has experienced several earthquakes of varying intensity over recent decades. Emergency response teams have been placed on high alert.
The tremor comes amid recent seismic activity in neighbouring South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, where a magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck on January 18, as reported by the NCS. The centre said that the quake occurred at 07:05:58 am on January 18 at a depth of 10 km.
Before that, on January 15, another earthquake of magnitude 4.2 struck Afghanistan at a depth of 96 kilometres. Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, Central Asian countries and northern India frequently experience earthquakes due to their location in a highly active seismic zone.
According to the NCS, earthquakes at shallow depths are generally considered more dangerous and potentially deadly than deeper ones as seismic waves from shallow tremors travel a shorter distance to the surface and therefore cause greater impact.
Also read: Day after major tremor, 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattles Japan
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