Silchar: A moderate earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck Assam’s Hailakandi district on Tuesday afternoon, sending tremors across several parts of Barak Valley and triggering panic among residents.According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred at 2:18 pm IST. Its epicentre was located in Hailakandi at latitude 24.823°N and longitude 92.634°E, with a focal depth of 5km. The event has been marked as “reviewed” by the agency.The shallow focal depth amplified the intensity of the tremors on the surface. Residents across Silchar, Hailakandi, and Cachar reported a sudden, sharp jolt. Many said utensils and household items rattled violently, while objects fell off shelves in some cases as the ground shook for several seconds.“We rushed out of our homes in panic. Such intense tremors had not been felt in the valley for a long time. Had it lasted a few more minutes, it could have caused massive destruction,” said a resident of Silchar’s Link Road area.The tremor sent people rushing out of homes and offices as anxiety spread briefly across neighbourhoods. Though the shaking lasted only a few seconds, it left many rattled.Data on the NCS portal indicated that the Hailakandi quake was among the strongest reviewed seismic events recorded in the region at the time. No immediate reports of major damage or casualties were available at the time of filing this report. Authorities said the situation is being monitored.Barak Valley falls within a seismically active zone where tremors of varying intensity are not uncommon.
