List of Earthquakes in India

1. Gujarat Earthquake (2001): An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Gujarat, India on January 26, 2001, at 8:40 am, lasting for approximately two minutes. It caused widespread destruction in villages and towns, particularly in Bhuj, near the epicenter. The disaster claimed over 20,000 lives and partially damaged the famous Swaminarayan temple in Bhuj.
2. Bihar Earthquake (1934) or Bihar-Nepal Earthquake: The Bihar Earthquake, occurring on January 15, 1934, with a magnitude of 8.1, was one of India’s most devastating earthquakes. It affected northern Bihar and parts of Nepal, causing over 30,000 casualties. The worst-hit areas included Munger, Purnea, Champaran, and Muzaffarpur in Bihar, along with Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur in Nepal.
3. Maharashtra Earthquake (1993): Also known as the Latur earthquake, it struck Maharashtra on September 30, 1993, at 3:56 am, with a magnitude of 6.4. The epicenter was in Killari village, Latur district. Claiming over 20,000 lives, it severely affected Latur and Osmanabad, destroying numerous villages and prompting the establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
4. Assam Earthquake (1950): The Assam Earthquake, occurring on August 15, 1950, with a magnitude of 8.6, severely affected Assam and Tibet. It claimed around 5,000 lives, with 1,500 casualties in Assam alone, and caused significant damage to both regions.
5. Uttarkashi Earthquake (1991): Also known as the Garhwal earthquake, it struck Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Chamoli districts in Uttarakhand on October 20, 1991, at 2:53 am, with a magnitude of 6.1. The quake affected around 307,000 people, resulting in 768 deaths and over 5,000 injuries, with vibrations felt up to New Delhi.
6. Jabalpur Earthquake (1997): Occurring on May 22, 1997, at 4:21 am, in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, this earthquake caused over 30 deaths and extensive damage to districts like Jabalpur, Seoni, Chhindwara, and Mandal, including destruction of villages and houses.
7. Sikkim Earthquake (2011): Also known as the 2011 Himalayan earthquake, it struck Sikkim and Nepal on September 18, 2011, at 6:10 pm, with a magnitude of 6.9. Claiming around 110 lives, it affected northeastern India, Bhutan, Nepal, southern Tibet, and Bangladesh.
8. Indian Ocean Earthquake (2004): The Indian Ocean earthquake, occurring on December 26, 2004, with a magnitude of 9.1-9.3, generated devastating tsunamis affecting countries adjacent to the Indian Ocean, resulting in over 200,000 deaths.
9. Kashmir Earthquake (2005): Striking on October 8, 2005, with a magnitude of 7.6, it caused over 80,000 casualties, displacing around 3 million people, with significant impacts in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
10. Andaman & Nicobar Earthquake (1941): The 1941 Andaman earthquake occurred on June 26, 1941, with a magnitude of 8.1, generating a tsunami affecting the Andaman Islands and neighbouring countries, causing around 8,000 deaths.
11. Kinnaur Earthquake (1975): This earthquake, occurring on January 19, 1975, with a magnitude of 6.8, caused severe destruction in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the Kinnaur district, resulting in around 50 casualties.
12. Koynanagar Earthquake (1967): Striking on December 11, 1967, close to Koyna Dam in southwestern India, it resulted in around 200 deaths and extensive damage to villages and houses.
13. Kangra Earthquake (1905): The Kangra earthquake occurred on April 4, 1905, with a magnitude of 7.8, causing around 20,000 casualties and significant damage to buildings and historical structures in Himachal Pradesh.
14. Anjar Earthquake (1956): Striking on July 21, 1956, in Kutch district, Gujarat, with a magnitude of 6.1, it resulted in around 250 deaths and destruction of villages and houses.
15. Chamoli Earthquake (1999): Occurring on March 29, 1999, in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, with a magnitude of 6.8, it caused over 100 deaths and extensive damage to houses and villages in multiple districts.

Earthquakes are sudden, violent shaking movements of the Earth’s surface caused by the abrupt release of energy from within the Earth’s crust or upper mantle. They occur along fault lines or tectonic plate boundaries and can range from gentle tremors to catastrophic events capable of causing widespread destruction and loss of life.

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