Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Jolts Assam, Tremors Felt Across Northeast India

A powerful earthquake of estimated magnitude 5.9 struck northeastern India on Sunday afternoon, with its epicentre located just 16 km from Dhekiajuli in Assam's Sonitpur district.

The tremors, which hit at 4:41 pm local time, were felt across multiple affected countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Myanmar (Burma), Bhutan, and China, triggering widespread panic but no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, confirmed the event, noting the quake's shallow depth, which amplified its impact on the surface.

Residents in Guwahati, Tezpur and surrounding areas described intense shaking that lasted for several seconds, causing residents to rush out of buildings and homes.

Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with real-time accounts of the event, with users reporting ongoing aftershocks in districts like Udalguri and Darrang.