A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region late on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, with tremors felt across northern India, including Jammu, Srinagar, and parts of Ladakh.
The quake occurred around 11:45 pm (IST) and lasted several seconds, sending residents fleeing from their homes in panic. No casualties or property damage have been reported in Kashmir so far, but Afghan authorities are assessing the impact near the epicentre, located southeast of Fayzabad.
Seismic agencies confirmed that the tremor originated deep within the Hindu Kush mountains and was felt in Pakistan and Tajikistan as well.
Fear and Relief in Kashmir
Across Kashmir, people were jolted awake as ceiling fans swayed and furniture rattled. Residents in Srinagar, Baramulla, and Jammu shared accounts of rushing outdoors in fear of aftershocks. “It felt like the ground was moving for almost 10 seconds. We all ran out,” said a Srinagar resident quoted in local reports.
Authorities from the National Center for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the tremor’s depth at over 200 kilometres, which helped limit surface-level damage despite its intensity.
Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management officials said that control rooms were immediately activated to monitor the situation and coordinate with seismic departments. They added that emergency protocols remain in place given that this is the fourth earthquake felt in the Himalayan region in less than a month.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Meteorological Centre officials reassured citizens that no aftershocks of similar magnitude are expected.
Afghanistan’s Seismic Struggles
Afghanistan continues to grapple with recurring earthquakes that have devastated communities since August 2025. The Taliban-led government reported that multiple quakes in recent months have destroyed homes and killed over 800 people, prompting ongoing international humanitarian efforts.
Tuesday’s tremor struck near Badakhshan province, an area that has already been hit by a series of mid-range quakes in recent weeks.
Afghan disaster officials said rescue and relief teams were assessing possible damage, especially in remote mountain villages where communications remain limited. A spokesperson for the Taliban’s National Disaster Management Authority appealed for continued international support, stating that the nation’s emergency response infrastructure remains under severe strain.
United Nations officials, through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s quake-hit communities as winter approaches.
Aid agencies like the Red Cross and UNICEF are reportedly distributing emergency supplies and erecting temporary shelters in affected zones.
Regional Vulnerability and Scientific Context
Experts emphasise that the Himalayas and Afghanistan together form part of the Alpide Belt, one of the world’s most active seismic zones arising from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This constant tectonic pressure makes the region prone to recurrent earthquakes.
The 2025 tremors are a reminder of the region’s fragile seismic equilibrium – and of tragic precedents like the 2005 Kashmir earthquake that claimed more than 80,000 lives.
Seismologists have pointed out that while the depth of this week’s quake prevented surface devastation, such deep-focus events can still cause concern across vast distances. Emergency specialists urge both Afghanistan and India to prioritise earthquake-resistant construction, public education, and bilateral cooperation in early-warning technologies to lessen disaster risks in the long term.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This earthquake serves as a stark reminder that South Asians share both geographical risks and humanitarian responsibilities. The Logical Indian believes it is imperative to strengthen preparedness, education, and empathy during natural disasters.
Our solidarity should extend across borders – from the valleys of Kashmir to the mountainous villages of Badakhshan – ensuring that no one faces crisis alone.
