In this paper, a reliable numerical scheme, the q-fractional homotopy analysis transform method (q-FHATM), is proposed to examine the Helmholtz equation of fractional order arising in seismic wave propagation, imaging and inversion. Sufficient conditions for its convergence and error estimates are established. The q-FHATM provides a solution in a rapidly convergent series. Results for different fractional values of space derivatives are compared with the existing methods and discussed with the help of figures. A proper selection of parameters yields approximations identical to the exact solution. Parameter 