An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 struck Uttarakhand’s border district Pithoragarh early Saturday morning, causing panic among residents. The tremors, which occurred at 4 AM, lasted for about 15 seconds. Despite the biting cold, people rushed out of their homes to seek safety.
District Disaster Management Officer Bhupendra Mehar reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was in Nepal. Fortunately, no damage or casualties have been reported in the district. Tremors were also felt in Champawat and other nearby districts.
Experts explain that earthquakes occur due to the movement and collision of the Earth’s seven major tectonic plates. The released energy creates seismic waves, causing the ground to shake. The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale, which is the standard for assessing its magnitude.
