Ladakh: 4.1 magnitude earthquake hits Leh
Leh, April 30
An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck Ladakh on Thursday, according to the National Centre for Seismology.
The epicentre was in Leh, and the tremor was recorded at 03:54:49 IST.
In a post on X, the NCS said, EQ of M: 4.1, On: 30/04/2026 03:54:49 IST, Lat: 36.722 N, Long: 74.456 E, Depth: 150 Km, Location: Leh, Ladakh.
The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 150 km, with the epicentre located at latitude 36.722 N and longitude 74.456 E.
Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) states.
— ANI
Reader Comments
These tremors are becoming more frequent in the Himalayan region. With climate change affecting glaciers in Ladakh, I wonder if that is contributing to seismic activity? Either way, kudos to NCS for the quick reporting.
Living in the US, we don't often hear about Ladakh earthquakes. Interesting to learn about the depth classification by USGS. A shallow 4.1 would feel more intense than this deeper one. Stay safe, Leh!
This is concerning. I have relatives in Leh, and they tell me that even mild tremors make them anxious because of the memory of the 2010 floods. The government should install more seismic monitoring stations in Ladakh to give better early warnings.
Thanks for the detailed info about earthquake depth categories. I always assumed deeper meant scarier, but it seems shallow ones can be more dangerous. Good that Leh escaped serious damage this time.
Ye toh routine ho gaya hai for Ladakh! But still, 4.1 at 3:54 AM must have woken people up. Hope the army and local administration are on alert. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
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