Earthquakes Jolt Kutch: No Casualties Reported

Two minor earthquakes struck Gujarat’s Kutch district within a seven-minute span on Thursday night, briefly unsettling residents but causing no reported injuries or damage, according to officials. The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar recorded the first tremor at 10:12 p.m., measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located 20 kilometers northeast of Bhachau. The second quake, registering 2.7 in magnitude, followed at 10:19 p.m., centered 19 kilometers northwest of Rapar.

The tremors, though mild, stirred memories of the devastating 2001 Kutch earthquake, which killed thousands and leveled entire communities. Bhachau, one of the hardest-hit areas in that catastrophe, was again at the heart of Thursday’s seismic activity. Despite the brief alarm, the district disaster management authority confirmed no reports of casualties or significant structural damage from either event.

Kutch is situated in a high-risk seismic zone, where low-intensity tremors are a frequent occurrence. The region’s geological vulnerability stems from its position along active fault lines, including the Kutch faultline, which experts attribute to the Indo-Asian tectonic plate collision. The ISR noted that these minor quakes are part of the region’s regular seismic activity, with Gujarat experiencing eight earthquakes in 2024, seven of which occurred in Kutch. Over the past five years, the state has recorded 33 tremors, underscoring its ongoing susceptibility to earthquakes.

Residents described fleeting moments of panic. Aslam Sama, a Bhachau local, recounted rushing out of his home with his family after feeling the tremors. Pritesh Parmar, a business owner in Bhuj, said the shakes evoked memories of the 2001 disaster. A traveler from Halol, Sameer, noted his car shaking during the event. Despite the scare, officials emphasized that the quakes caused no harm, and the region’s preparedness helped maintain calm. The ISR continues to monitor seismic activity closely, as Kutch remains on alert for future tremors.