Mild earthquake of 4.4 magnitude hits Gujarat's Kachchh

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 on the Richter scale struck the Kachchh district of Gujarat in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the tremors were recorded at 4:30:02 AM IST. Residents in several parts of the district reported being woken up by the shaking, with many rushing out of their homes in panic.

The seismic event occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, making the vibrations more perceptible at the surface. The epicenter was pinpointed at latitude 23.65° North and longitude 70.23° East, approximately 43 km west of Rapar. Despite the moderate intensity, there have been no immediate reports of any casualties or significant structural damage to property from the affected areas.

Kachchh is located in Seismic Zone V, which is classified as a "very high risk" zone. This region has a long history of seismic activity, most notably the devastating 2001 earthquake. While tremors of lower intensity occur frequently in the district, a 4.4 magnitude quake is considered moderate and often causes minor cracks in old buildings or the displacement of household items.