Multiple tremors jolt parts of Rajkot district in Gujarat between Jan. 8-9; no damage reported

Multiple tremors rattled parts of Gujarat’s Saurashtra region between Thursday night, January 8, 2026, and Friday afternoon, January 9, triggering panic among residents of three talukas in Rajkot district. Officials said that no loss of life or property damage has been reported so far.

According to the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), at least 12 tremors with magnitudes ranging from 2.6 to 3.8 on the Richter scale were recorded during the period. The tremors were felt mostly in Upleta, Dhoraji and Jetpur talukas.

Rajkot District Collector Om Prakash said a total of 21 tremors ranging in magnitude from 1.4 to 3.8 were recorded in the affected talukas. The first earthquake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 20.43 on Thursday, January 8, with the epicenter near the city of Upleta.

earthquake swarm

ISR officials said the epicenters of the tremors were approximately 27 to 30 km east-northeast of Upleta. The repeated tremors, described by experts as an “earthquake swarm”, caused widespread fear among residents, with many people rushing out of their homes after the initial tremor.

Locals said the ground continued to shake intermittently until Friday afternoon, prompting some families to take shelter in open areas as a precaution.

Collector Prakash said there was no report of any loss of life or damage to property. As a preventive step, the district administration identified old and dilapidated buildings in the affected areas and advised residents to move to safer places.

“After identifying the old buildings, we contacted teachers, talatis and sarpanchs. A one-day holiday was declared in Anganwadis and schools located in these buildings,” he said.

Seismological experts said the tremors are part of swarm-type seismic activity, which is usually caused by water seeping into pre-existing cracks in the earth’s crust. This increases the pore pressure, creating stress that is released in the form of small earthquakes.

They added that such swarms are generally low in size and rarely cause damage.

(With inputs from PTI)