A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Nepal in the early hours of Friday, with tremors felt across the Himalayan region and parts of Bihar, including Patna and Muzaffarpur.

The quake occurred at approximately 2:35 am near Bhairab Kunda in Nepal’s Sindhupalchok district, as reported by news agencies. However, there were variations in the estimated magnitude—Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences recorded it at 5.6, while India’s National Centre for Seismology reported a magnitude of 5.5. It remains unclear whether these discrepancies indicate multiple quakes.

A tremor of this intensity has the potential to cause structural damage near the epicenter, leading to cracked buildings and strong vibrations. So far, authorities have not received reports of casualties or significant destruction.

Residents in Nepal described being abruptly awakened by the shaking. "It was strong enough to make us rush outside, but things seem normal now. No damage has been reported so far," said local official Ganesh Nepali.

In Bihar, social media users shared videos showing ceiling fans swaying and objects moving during the tremors. One user noted that the quake lasted for nearly 35 seconds, while another from Patna said the impact was strong but did not appear to cause visible harm.

This seismic activity follows a series of earthquakes in January, when Tibet’s Himalayan region experienced multiple tremors, the strongest reaching 7.1 magnitude, resulting in over 125 fatalities.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation for any aftershocks or further developments.