A 2.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Makardhokada in Nagpur district’s Umred area around 3pm on Sunday, adding to a series of low-intensity tremors recorded in and around the belt in recent weeks, according to the National Centre for Seismology. No loss of life or property damage was reported from the latest event.
The tremor occurred a day after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district was felt across parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada. That earthquake was recorded at 9.15am, with its epicentre in the Satpura region, about 35km from Khargone near the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border, at a depth of approximately 10km.
Saturday’s earthquake was the second such event in the wider region since a 4.1-magnitude earthquake recorded on October 18. Tremors from the Khargone event were reported in parts of Amravati, Buldhana and Jalgaon districts, including Dharni, Achalpur, Morshi, Malkapur, Sangrampur, Nandura, Raver and Bhusawal. Residents said the shaking lasted a few seconds in some areas, while others reported tremors continuing for nearly 30 seconds. Some people rushed out of their homes after feeling the jolts.
The latest earthquake near Makardhokada follows several smaller events recorded around Umred and nearby districts. On November 9, the NCS recorded a 2.6-magnitude earthquake near Paradgaon lake, close to Umred, at 2.17pm. Later that afternoon, a 3.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded near Kalamb in Yavatmal district around 3pm, followed by a 1.9-magnitude tremor near Soholi, close to Khaparkheda, at 3.28pm.
Seismic activity had also been reported in the wider Nagpur region towards the end of October. A 2.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded near Ghugus in Chandrapur district on October 22. Five days later, a 2.3-magnitude tremor was reported near Haldgaon, followed by a 3.0-magnitude earthquake near Dawaha in the Umred area.
The sequence follows earlier seismic events documented around Nagpur. Two low-intensity earthquakes were recorded in the region in 2023, while six seismic events were reported during February and March 2024. Tremors were also reported near Zilpi Lake in Hingna, Parseoni and the Wardha Road belt in March 2024. Further events included earthquakes near Singori village in Saoner on May 3, 2024, and near Malni village in Kuhi on May 4, 2024.
The Geological Survey of India began a detailed investigation into seismic activity in Nagpur district in June 2024. A micro-earthquake survey covering 1,400 square kilometres was launched in August that year. The region also experienced a 4.2-magnitude earthquake in Melghat, Amravati, on September 30, 2024, and tremors linked to earthquakes near Seoni in Madhya Pradesh and Mulugu in Telangana later that year.
The National Centre for Seismology’s recording of the Makardhokada event is the latest official measurement cited in the report. No further damage, casualties or administrative response to Sunday’s tremor were reported in the supplied account.
