4.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Shimla district
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake hit Shimla in Himachal Pradesh at 4:36 a.m. on 17 October. No casualties or damage have been reported.
Shimla1 min read
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A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh at 4:36 a.m. IST on 17 October 2026. The National Centre for Seismology recorded the event at latitude 31.298 N, longitude 77.529 E, at a depth of 10 kilometres.
Tremors were felt in the Rampur area, about 130 kilometres from Shimla city, and for a few seconds in parts of the district. The State Disaster Management Authority said no loss of life or property has been reported. Some residents left their homes and moved to open ground as a precaution.
The epicentre was located approximately 24 to 40 kilometres east-northeast of Shimla, depending on the precise measurement cited. This is the second earthquake reported in Himachal Pradesh in less than a week. An earlier tremor occurred in Chamba district.
Himachal Pradesh lies in high-seismicity Zones 4 and 5. Official data show the state has recorded 67 tremors over the past three years up to August, causing limited property damage. A proposed new seismic map by the Bureau of Indian Standards would place the entire state in Zone 6.
The Himalayan region experiences frequent moderate earthquakes because of the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. No aftershocks have been reported as of Saturday morning. Authorities have not issued any special advisories beyond standard monitoring.
The National Centre for Seismology posts real-time data through its BhooKamp application and official channels. The event was confirmed within hours of occurrence.
