Mild Earthquake Jolts Shimla; Epicenter 10 Km Below Surface

Shimla, October 31 || Diary Times News Network

Residents of Himachal Pradesh’s capital, Shimla, were briefly startled early Friday morning after mild tremors were felt in the region. The earthquake, which struck at 7:02 a.m., measured 3.2 on the Richter scale.

According to the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, the epicenter was located within Shimla district, at latitude 31.76°N and longitude 77.83°E, with a depth of about 10 kilometers below the earth’s surface. Despite the tremors, officials confirmed that no loss of life or property was reported from any part of the region.

The Meteorological Centre said the quake was of low intensity, and its impact was limited to a small area. An official from the State Disaster Management Authority also confirmed that no damage had been reported in Shimla or nearby areas.

Mild earthquakes have been periodically felt across Himachal Pradesh over the past few months, though none have caused significant damage.

Himachal Pradesh falls in one of India’s most seismically sensitive zones, with most parts of the state lying in Seismic Zones IV and V, where the risk of earthquakes remains high. Historically, the 1905 Kangra-Chamba earthquake claimed more than 10,000 lives, making it one of the region’s most devastating natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the weather across the state remains clear. The Meteorological Department has forecast a change from November 3, when a western disturbance is likely to become active, bringing rain in the hills and snowfall on higher peaks. Light to moderate rainfall in the plains and snowfall in mountain areas is expected on November 4 and 5, which could lead to a drop in temperatures.

For now, the state continues to enjoy bright sunshine, with light fog reported in some low-lying areas. In the tribal regions, however, temperatures have dipped below freezing, intensifying the cold. The weather department has predicted generally clear skies across the state for the next two days.