Two quakes hit Chamba, Kangra within 45 minutes; no damage reported

Two moderate-intensity earthquakes jolted Himachal Pradesh's Chamba and Kangra districts within 45 minutes, triggering panic among residents, officials said on Wednesday. No loss of life or damage to property was reported.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), a 3.6-magnitude earthquake struck Chamba at 6.54 pm, with its epicentre near Kareri. The quake occurred at a depth of 5 km.

About 45 minutes later, another earthquake of moderate intensity was recorded in Kangra. The second quake also occurred at a depth of 5 km.

The shallow depth of the earthquakes made the tremors particularly noticeable, prompting residents in some areas to rush out of their homes in panic.

Officials said no casualties or damage to buildings or other property had been reported so far. The district administrations and concerned agencies are monitoring the situation.

Both Kangra and Chamba fall under seismic zone V, which is classified as a high-damage-risk zone.