On Tuesday Evening a Shallow M5.0 Earthquake struck near Haldwani in India.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 6th, 2026. Last updated November 3rd, 2026.

Under land 95 kilometer from Haldwani in India, a shallow and significant Magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred in the evening of Tuesday October 6th, 2026. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 5.7 million people. Nepal is also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in India, 95 kilometer (59 mi) north of Haldwani in Uttarakhand. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 20 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Oct 6, 2026 22:23 (Kolkata Time) - Oct 6, 2026 16:53 Universal Time.
Location:	95 km north of Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India. Coordinates 30°4'33"N 79°34'29"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.0 Detected by 156 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.046 .
Depth:	20 km (12 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

Five perople killed, 8 injured and 1 building destroyed at Delhi.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 5.7 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 5.7 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is V, which corresponds with moderate shaking and very light damage. Roughly 26,490 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 4.9 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In India , around 5.2 million people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). In Nepal , around 440 thousand people. Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of China too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
109,100	II	Very weak	None
4,874,000	III	Weak	Probably none
643,100	IV	Light	Likely none
26,490	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: India and Nepal .

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Rānikhet in Uttarakhand, India. Rānikhet is located 50 kilometer (31 mi) north of the epicenter. Rānikhet experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Delhi is located 277 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Meerut is located 218 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Ghāziābād is located 260 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
50 km (31 mi) S from epicenter	Rānikhet Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
54 km (34 mi) S from epicenter	Almora Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
76 km (47 mi) S from epicenter	Naini Tāl Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
77 km (48 mi) W from epicenter	Pauri Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
78 km (48 mi) W from epicenter	Srīnagar Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
82 km (51 mi) SE from epicenter	Pithorāgarh Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
87 km (54 mi) SW from epicenter	Rāmnagar Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
95 km (59 mi) S from epicenter	Haldwani Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
98 km (61 mi) E from epicenter	Dārchulā Sudurpashchim Pradesh, Nepal.	III Weak
108 km (67 mi) W from epicenter	Kotdwāra Uttarakhand, India.
113 km (70 mi) SW from epicenter	Kashipur Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
114 km (71 mi) SW from epicenter	Jaspur Uttarakhand, India.	III Weak
120 km (75 mi) SW from epicenter	Thakurdwara Uttar Pradesh, India.
123 km (76 mi) W from epicenter	Rishīkesh Uttarakhand, India.
128 km (80 mi) SW from epicenter	Sherkot Uttar Pradesh, India.
130 km (81 mi) SW from epicenter	Najībābād Uttar Pradesh, India.
130 km (81 mi) SW from epicenter	Nagīna Uttar Pradesh, India.
134 km (83 mi) SW from epicenter	Dhāmpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
136 km (85 mi) SW from epicenter	Seohāra Uttar Pradesh, India.	III Weak
137 km (85 mi) SW from epicenter	Tānda Uttar Pradesh, India.
137 km (85 mi) SE from epicenter	Mahendranagar Sudurpashchim Pradesh, Nepal.
137 km (85 mi) W from epicenter	Haridwar Uttarakhand, India.
142 km (88 mi) SW from epicenter	Nihtaur Uttar Pradesh, India.
145 km (90 mi) S from epicenter	Baheri Uttar Pradesh, India.
146 km (91 mi) SW from epicenter	Kīratpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
150 km (93 mi) S from epicenter	Rāmpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
151 km (94 mi) W from epicenter	Dehra Dūn Uttarakhand, India.
158 km (98 mi) SW from epicenter	Morādābād Uttar Pradesh, India.
159 km (99 mi) SW from epicenter	Bijnor Uttar Pradesh, India.
162 km (101 mi) S from epicenter	Pīlibhīt Uttar Pradesh, India.
164 km (102 mi) SW from epicenter	Chāndpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
164 km (102 mi) W from epicenter	Roorkee Uttarakhand, India.
169 km (105 mi) SW from epicenter	Amroha Uttar Pradesh, India.
182 km (113 mi) SE from epicenter	Dhangaḍhi̇̄ Sudurpashchim Pradesh, Nepal.
188 km (117 mi) W from epicenter	Deoband Uttar Pradesh, India.
191 km (119 mi) S from epicenter	Bareilly Uttar Pradesh, India.
192 km (119 mi) SW from epicenter	Sambhal Uttar Pradesh, India.
193 km (120 mi) W from epicenter	Muzaffarnagar Uttar Pradesh, India.
196 km (122 mi) W from epicenter	Sahāranpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
196 km (122 mi) SW from epicenter	Chanduasi Uttar Pradesh, India.
218 km (135 mi) SW from epicenter	Meerut Uttar Pradesh, India.
246 km (153 mi) S from epicenter	Shāhjānpur Uttar Pradesh, India.
257 km (160 mi) NW from epicenter	Shimla Himachal Pradesh, India.
257 km (160 mi) SE from epicenter	Birendranagar Karnali Pradesh, Nepal.
260 km (162 mi) SW from epicenter	Ghāziābād Uttar Pradesh, India.
270 km (168 mi) SE from epicenter	Gulariyā Lumbini Province, Nepal.
276 km (171 mi) SW from epicenter	Narela Delhi, India.
277 km (172 mi) SW from epicenter	Delhi Delhi, India.
277 km (172 mi) W from epicenter	Chandīgarh Chandigarh, India.
280 km (174 mi) SW from epicenter	Karol Bāgh Delhi, India.
282 km (175 mi) W from epicenter	Mohali Punjab, India.
284 km (176 mi) SW from epicenter	Alīgarh Uttar Pradesh, India.
284 km (176 mi) SW from epicenter	Rohini Delhi, India.
287 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Faridabad Haryana, India.
300 km (186 mi) SW from epicenter	Najafgarh Delhi, India.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 48 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 48 people have reported shaking in 35 places, all within India.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Haldwani cum Kathgodam, Uttaranchal, India: 5 people.
Srīnagar, Uttaranchal, India: 4 people.
Bhowali, Uttaranchal, India: 3 people.
Almora, Uttaranchal, India: 2 people.
Ni Dilli, Delhi, India: 2 people.
Kotdwara, Uttaranchal, India: 2 people.
Khatīma, Uttaranchal, India: 2 people.
Dhanaura, Uttar Pradesh, India: 1 person.
Tehri, Uttaranchal, India: 1 person.
Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh, India: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 3rd, 2026, when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit 164 km (102 mi) further north-east. An even stronger magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck on November 3rd, 2023.

In total, 14 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 9 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 20 km (12 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 03/11/26 20:08 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.