KATHMANDU: A powerful earthquake early Tuesday morning shook Nepal, causing widespread disruption as people rushed into the streets, braving the cold.

Families, some holding children and elderly relatives, gathered in open areas, while students fled their classrooms in panic.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck at 6:50 am, with its epicenter located in Dinggye, a village in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, as reported by Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center.

The tremors were strongly felt in Nepal’s Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati provinces, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Though the earthquake caused only minor disruptions, it reignited deep fears of destruction.

At Tribhuvan University, the start of first-year undergraduate exams was delayed by 15 minutes. In Kathmandu’s Nagarjun municipality, a man injured himself while jumping from his rooftop. In Bara district, 11 schoolchildren reportedly fainted due to shock.

For many, the quake revived painful memories of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which killed over 8,000 people and caused billions in damage.

“The psychological scars of that disaster remain fresh,” said Dr. Basudev Karki, a psychiatrist at Patan Mental Hospital. “Even minor tremors can trigger intense anxiety, as the fear of another devastating disaster lingers.”

Dr. Karki emphasized that earthquakes do not only cause physical destruction but also have lasting effects on mental health.

“The 2015 earthquake led to a rise in psychological issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder,” he noted. He called for better awareness and mental health support to help people cope with the trauma caused by natural disasters.

Seismologist Dr. Lok Bijay Adhikari urged the public to stay calm and refrain from spreading false information on social media. “There’s no way to predict earthquakes,” he said.

“Unsubstantiated rumors can cause unnecessary panic and lead to accidents during evacuation.”

Experts underscored the importance of preparedness to reduce risks during earthquakes.

Dr. Adhikari called for improved public safety campaigns, building reinforcements, and the development of early warning systems.

Nepal, located in one of the world’s most seismically active regions along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is highly vulnerable to devastating earthquakes.

This geologic activity, responsible for forming the Himalayas, also poses a continual threat.

Tuesday’s earthquake served as a stark reminder of Nepal’s seismic vulnerability and the need for both structural and psychological preparedness.

While no significant damage was reported, experts warned that the country must remain vigilant in facing the inevitable challenges ahead.