Two earthquakes rattled Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district early Wednesday, August 20, 2025, adding to the challenges faced by the region already grappling with severe monsoon-related damage. The first earthquake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale, occurred at 3:27 AM IST at a depth of 20 kilometers. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the epicenter was located in Chamba. Just over an hour later, at 4:39 AM, a second, stronger earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 struck the same area, this time at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Initial reports indicate that no loss of life has been reported due to the tremors. However, the earthquakes have compounded the difficulties faced by residents already dealing with the havoc caused by heavy monsoon rains.

In addition to the seismic activity, a cloudburst in the Lagghati area of Kullu district has caused significant damage to infrastructure and property. Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Ravish reported that the road near Bhootnath Bridge was damaged, and the Hanumani Bag bridge was washed away. A cremation ground also suffered heavy destruction. Furthermore, two shops, two vegetable stalls, one house, and the Ropdi Bhutthi Bridge were damaged. Authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the damage.

The monsoon season has brought widespread devastation to Himachal Pradesh, with the death toll since June 20 reaching 276. Of these, 143 fatalities were due to rain-related disasters like landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning, while 133 were the result of road accidents caused by the hazardous conditions. The state has suffered an estimated economic loss of over Rs 2,21,000 lakh (Rs 2,211.64 crore) due to damage to public and private property, agriculture, horticulture, and infrastructure. Over a thousand houses have been completely destroyed, along with shops, factories, cowsheds, and other rural structures. Tragically, over 27,552 livestock and poultry birds have perished in the disaster.

The geographical location of Himachal Pradesh makes it prone to seismic activity. The region experiences frequent mild earthquakes due to a main boundary fault and several smaller faults beneath the surface. In April 2020, a similar earthquake of magnitude 4.0 struck the Chamba region, with its epicenter 22 kilometers west-northwest of Dharamshala.