6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Islamabad, Parts of Punjab, KP, AJK

ISLAMABAD: An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 jolted Islamabad and parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday night with its epicentre in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, triggering panic among residents across the region.

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on April 3, 2026, at 9:13 PM (PST), according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Islamabad.

The quake occurred at a depth of 190 kilometers, with its epicenter located at latitude 36.48°N and longitude 70.84°E.

The epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, with the quake felt in multiple areas of northern Pakistan, including Islamabad, Chitral, Peshawar, Swat, and Shangla.

An earthquake struck Islamabad, Peshawar, Nowsher, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khana, Rawalpindi, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Muridke, Kamoke, and Nankana Sahib, where people rushed out of homes and offices as the ground shook.

Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties or major damage, though authorities continued monitoring the situation.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Punjab, said inspection teams have been dispatched to assess buildings and infrastructure across affected districts as a precaution.