6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan, tremors felt in Delhi and J&K
Synopsis
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake deep beneath Afghanistan's Hindu Kush sent tremors rippling through Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir on 27 June — the latest in a series of deep-focus quakes from the same seismic zone that have repeatedly rattled North India and Pakistan in 2025. No casualties have been reported on the Indian side so far.
Key Takeaways
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan at 7:04 pm IST on 27 June , confirmed by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) .
The epicentre was at Latitude 36.442 N, Longitude 70.672 E , at a depth of 215 km in the Hindu Kush region.
Strong tremors were felt in Delhi , Jammu and Kashmir , and several North Indian states.
The region has seen repeated seismic events in 2025, including 5.5 , 5.8 , 5.9 , and 6.1-magnitude quakes tracing to the same zone.
No damage or casualties have been reported within India from the 27 June earthquake.
India separately launched Operation Amistad , sending two IAF aircraft and 35+ tonnes of relief to earthquake-hit Venezuela .
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Saturday, 27 June, sending strong tremors across Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and several other North Indian states. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the Indian government's nodal agency for seismic monitoring, confirmed the quake struck at 7:04 pm IST, with its epicentre recorded at Latitude 36.442 N, Longitude 70.672 E and a depth of 215 km.
What the NCS Confirmed
The NCS shared the seismic data on social media platform X, posting: 'Earthquake of magnitude 6.2, June 27, 19:04:51 IST, Lat: 36.442 N, Long: 70.672 E, Depth: 215 Km, Location: Afghanistan.' The deep focal depth — at 215 km — is characteristic of the Hindu Kush seismic zone, which routinely generates deep-focus earthquakes capable of transmitting tremors across vast distances without causing the surface rupture typical of shallower events.
A Pattern of Seismic Activity in the Region
This is not an isolated event. In April, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at a depth of 199 km, sending tremors into Islamabad, Peshawar, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Hangu, North Waziristan, Chitral, and Rawalpindi, according to Pakistani media reports. A separate 6.1-magnitude quake also struck in April, affecting Islamabad, parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), with its epicentre again traced to Afghanistan's Hindu Kush at a depth of 190 km.
Earlier, in February, a 5.8-magnitude tremor jolted Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza. That same month, tremors were also felt across Delhi-NCR and North India from an Afghanistan-origin quake at a depth of 150 km, which the Meteorological Centre Srinagar measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale.
Venezuela Earthquakes and India's Response
Separately, hundreds have reportedly been killed in twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday. In response, India on Friday launched 'Operation Amistad', dispatching two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying a field hospital unit, more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines, and medical equipment to support earthquake-hit Venezuela.
What This Means for North India
The recurrence of Afghanistan-origin tremors reaching Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir underscores the seismic vulnerability of the broader Hindu Kush-Himalayan belt. Authorities have not issued any damage or casualty reports from the 27 June quake within Indian territory. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay alert to official advisories from the NCS and state disaster management agencies.
Point of View
Yet public awareness of drop-cover-hold protocols remains low. The NCS is doing its job on detection and alerts; the gap is in last-mile public communication. Each tremor that passes without casualties is also a missed rehearsal opportunity.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the magnitude and location of the earthquake on 27 June?
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on 27 June at 7:04 pm IST, with its epicentre at Latitude 36.442 N, Longitude 70.672 E in the Hindu Kush region, at a depth of 215 km. The National Centre for Seismology confirmed the details.
Which parts of India felt the tremors?
Strong tremors were felt in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and several other North Indian states following the Afghanistan earthquake. No damage or casualties within India have been reported so far.
Why do Afghanistan earthquakes affect North India?
Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region is one of the world's most seismically active zones, generating deep-focus earthquakes that can transmit ground motion across thousands of kilometres. The deep focal depth — 215 km in this case — allows energy to travel farther without the surface rupture seen in shallower quakes.
Has this happened before in 2025?
Yes. At least four significant earthquakes originating in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region have sent tremors into North India and Pakistan in 2025, including a 5.9-magnitude event in February felt across Delhi-NCR and a 6.1-magnitude quake in April that affected multiple Pakistani cities.
What is India's Operation Amistad?
Operation Amistad is an Indian humanitarian mission launched on Friday to support earthquake-hit Venezuela, where hundreds have reportedly been killed in twin earthquakes. India dispatched two Indian Air Force aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines, and medical equipment.
