Earthquake of Magnitude 4.2 Strikes Mehsana, Gujarat

Mehsana, Gujarat A mild earthquake of magnitude 4.2 shook Gujarat’s Mehsana district late Friday night, causing panic among residents but fortunately resulting in no reported casualties or significant damage, according to officials from the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) and the State Emergency Control Room in Gandhinagar.

The tremors, felt at 10:15 PM, prompted people to rush out of their homes in fear. The earthquake’s epicenter was located 13 kilometers southwest of Patan, with a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). Reports indicate the tremors lasted for 2-3 seconds, enough to remind locals of Gujarat’s vulnerability to seismic activities.

Details of the Quake

The earthquake struck at latitude 23.71°N and longitude 72.30°E, with its epicenter approximately 219 kilometers northeast of Rajkot. ISR officials confirmed that the tremor impacted parts of Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Mehsana, but there were no immediate reports of damage to life or property.

This event adds to a series of mild tremors Gujarat has experienced recently. Earlier this month, a 3.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Lakhpat in Kutch, followed by a 3.7-magnitude quake in Amreli, both without casualties.

A Seismically Active State

Gujarat’s history with earthquakes makes every tremor a cause for concern. The 2001 Kutch earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9, remains etched in memory, having claimed 13,800 lives and left 1.67 lakh injured. Entire towns were leveled, leaving the state in ruins.

Over the past 200 years, Gujarat has faced nine major earthquakes, underscoring the persistent seismic risks in the region. Experts attribute this to the region’s tectonic activity, particularly around the Kutch and Saurashtra belts.