Twin Earthquakes Strike Sikkim Within an Hour, No Casualties Reported

Two earthquakes measuring 4.6 and 3.5 on the Richter scale struck the northeastern state of Sikkim on Thursday, prompting brief concern among residents but causing no reported casualties or property damage, officials said. Authorities confirmed that both tremors were felt in parts of the Himalayan state, though the impact remained minimal. The back-to-back seismic events were monitored closely by disaster management teams and geological agencies.

The first and stronger earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.6, occurred at 11:24 am, according to officials. Data from the National Centre for Seismology indicated that the epicentre was located about 4 km northeast of Yuksom in the Gyalshing district. The quake originated at a depth of 10 km beneath the earth’s surface, a level that can often lead to perceptible shaking in nearby areas. However, there were no immediate reports of panic or structural damage.

A second, milder tremor measuring 3.5 magnitude struck later in the day at 12:17 pm. This quake affected Mangan district, with its epicentre situated approximately 11 km northwest of Gangtok. Like the earlier tremor, it also occurred at a depth of 10 km. Officials noted that while the quake was recorded by monitoring systems, its intensity was relatively low and did not trigger any emergency response.

Local authorities and disaster management officials continued to monitor the situation throughout the day. Preliminary field inputs indicated normal conditions across affected districts, and routine life remained largely uninterrupted. Emergency services were kept on alert as a precautionary measure, in line with standard operating procedures for seismic activity in the region.

Sikkim lies in a seismically sensitive zone of the eastern Himalayas and frequently experiences low- to moderate-intensity earthquakes. Experts say such tremors are not uncommon due to the ongoing tectonic activity in the region, where the Indian and Eurasian plates interact. Despite the frequency of minor quakes, most do not result in significant damage.

Officials urged residents to remain calm but aware of basic earthquake safety protocols. Authorities reiterated that there was no immediate report of loss of life or property damage from Thursday’s tremors, and the situation across the state remained fully under control.