Ladakh experienced two earthquakes within a span of around four hours on Thursday, triggering concern among residents but causing no reported casualties or structural damage so far.
The second tremor, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck the Leh region at around 9:54 am, according to data released by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at latitude 36.765° north and longitude 75.326° east.
5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hit Ladakh Earlier
The latest tremor followed a stronger 5.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Ladakh at around 6:05 am.
The first quake was also recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 36.881° north latitude and 74.402° east longitude.
The two earthquakes occurring within a few hours caused panic among residents, with people turning to social media to share their experiences and seek information.
Authorities have not reported any deaths, injuries or property damage following either earthquake.
Ladakh Remains Seismically Active
Earthquakes are relatively common in the Ladakh region because of its location in a seismically active part of the Himalayas.
Earlier this year, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Leh region. Despite the tremor, no casualties or significant damage were reported at the time.
The latest back-to-back earthquakes have once again highlighted the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
Tourism In Ladakh Continues To Grow
The earthquakes come at a time when Ladakh is witnessing strong tourist activity.
The Union Territory recorded 3,30,332 tourist arrivals between January and July 2026, according to official figures. This is already close to the 3,35,872 visitors recorded during the whole of 2025.
Tourist numbers increased sharply during June and July, with more than 2.12 lakh visitors arriving in the two months.
July alone saw 1,05,046 tourists, compared with 67,273 during July 2025, representing a growth of 56.15%.
Of the July visitors, 95,416 were domestic tourists and 9,630 were foreign visitors.
The strong tourism numbers underline Ladakh’s growing popularity as a destination, even as the region continues to face the natural challenges associated with its mountainous and seismically active terrain.
