Overview
- The National Centre for Seismology recorded a magnitude 5.5 quake near Leh at 6:05 am IST on Thursday and placed the epicentre at 36.881°N, 74.402°E with a depth of about 10 km.
- Residents and officials reported strong tremors across Leh and nearby areas, but no casualties or major structural damage have been reported so far.
- The NCS posted the event on X and is actively monitoring for aftershocks while local disaster authorities and the Leh administration have started on-the-ground damage assessments.
- Leh lies in the Himalayan seismic belt classified as Seismic Zone IV, meaning shallow quakes like this one tend to produce stronger surface shaking and therefore merit extra caution.
- Officials say continued monitoring is critical because aftershocks could affect remote villages, tourist operations and military logistics in the high-altitude region.