A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

The earthquake was recorded at 6:05:15 AM IST on August 13, 2026, with the epicentre located at 36.881°N latitude and 74.402°E longitude. The NCS said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage following the tremor.

Earthquake recorded at shallow depth

The NCS reported the earthquake as a shallow event, with its depth recorded at 10 kilometres.

Earthquakes are classified according to how deep their focus is beneath the Earth’s surface. According to US Geological Survey (USGS) data cited in the source, earthquakes can occur from the Earth’s surface to about 700 kilometres below it, with the range divided into shallow, intermediate and deep earthquakes.

Shallow earthquakes can produce stronger shaking at the surface because seismic waves have less distance to travel before reaching the ground. This can increase the potential for structural damage and casualties, depending on factors including the earthquake’s magnitude and local conditions.

The call for a Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery water issue has received support from some farmer organisations, but several groups have chosen not to participate in a complete shutdown, allowing buses, schools and other services to function normally.

The Federation of Kannada organisations is divided over the bandh call against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) order directing Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

Federation president Vatal Nagaraj has maintained his support for the bandh. However, several organisations associated with the federation have backed away from the shutdown while extending what they described as “moral support” to Nagaraj’s protest.

Praveen Shetty, who heads one faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, said his organisation supports Nagaraj’s struggle but is not in a position to support the bandh.

Transport services to operate normally

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees’ association have not extended support to the bandh, according to sources in the state transport department.

Private bus associations, transporters and autorickshaw associations have also distanced themselves from the shutdown.

Street vendors are expected to continue their usual operations. Government and private schools will also function normally, as the organisations involved have largely extended moral rather than direct support to the bandh.

Farmers’ groups back the bandh

The Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi and some other farmers’ organisations have extended their support to the bandh.

Sunanda of the Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi said the organisation supports the strike, arguing that Karnataka has been subjected to injustice over the Cauvery water issue.

Vatal Nagaraj and organisations supporting him are opposing the CWMA’s direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The release began on Wednesday morning.

The Karnataka government has argued that the state’s situation does not favour releasing such a large quantity of water to Tamil Nadu, citing inadequate rainfall, particularly in the Cauvery region.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed the police to take stringent action against people making derogatory remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, saying that nobody would be spared irrespective of their political or official position.

The direction came days after BJP MP Nagendranath Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, described Netaji as a “war criminal” and questioned his leadership and the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.

Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna, Adhikari said the police had been instructed to arrest those behind such remarks on social media.

“I have asked the police to take stringent action against those making derogatory remarks against Netaji on social media. Police have been directed to arrest those behind this,” he said.

Adhikari says law applies equally to all

Asked whether action would be taken against Ananta Maharaj, Adhikari did not name anyone specifically but said the law was equal for everyone.

“I will not name anyone, but the law is equal for MLAs, MPs, leaders of any party, government officials, or police officers,” he said.

Adhikari also urged people who have posted derogatory comments about Netaji on social media to delete them immediately and issue an apology.

However, he cautioned that deleting a post would not necessarily prevent police action, saying the police would independently decide what action should be taken.

“But even deleting the post may not help, as the police will make the final decision independently,” the chief minister said.