A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh early on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. While the IMD said the quake measured about 5.9, the United States Geological Survey pegged it at 6.1.
It has been reported that the epicenter of the shallow earthquake was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Along, and 180 kilometers southwest of the state capital Itanagar.
It struck at 1:45 am. There were no reports of any damage to property or casualties in the quake.
According to the state government’s website, Arunachal Pradesh is the least densely populated state but is still home to more than 1.2 million people.
China’s official state news agency Xinhua said the earthquake was also felt in Tibet, which is neighboring to the state.
New Delhi and Beijing for decades have disputed control of Arunachal Pradesh — a dispute that remains unresolved. While India considers Arunachal Pradesh one of its northeastern states, China claims about 90,000 square kilometers (34,750 square miles) of the territory.
Arunachal Pradesh also borders Myanmar and Bhutan.
USGS estimated there was a “low likelihood” of casualties and damage from the earthquake.
State Director General of Police S V K Singh, who himself was awakened by the temblor, said, “Though people panicked there are no reports of any damage.”
Prof Trilochan Singh, who served as a geologist of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology for decades, described it as “shallow earthquake”, considered dangerous for its impact within a radius of 40-50 km.
Mild earthquakes often occur in this Himalayan state, located in seismic zone 5, Singh said.
A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake also struck Tibet close to India early Wednesday, authorities said.
The quake, which struck at 4:15 a.m., jolted Medog county in Nyingchi city which is located close to Arunachal Pradesh.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
