Strong Earthquake Tremors Jolt Delhi-NCR: Loud sound was heard, people ran out of their homes when quake struck

This morning, a 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck Delhi and its surrounding areas, causing strong tremors to be felt across the national capital. The earthquake occurred at 5:36 am, with the National Center for Seismology confirming the epicenter was located at a depth of 5 kilometers beneath the surface in Delhi. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

A loud sound was heard and people ran out of their homes when the quake struck.

The Delhi Police reassured residents via X, stating, "We hope you all are safe. Dial 112 for emergency assistance." Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his concern, tweeting, "I pray for everyone's safety."

A passenger at the New Delhi Railway Station recounted the experience, saying, "I was waiting for my train in the waiting lounge when suddenly it felt as if something fell. People started running outside, but then I realized it was just an earthquake. It felt like a train had fallen or a bridge had collapsed, lasting about 5-6 seconds."

An official reported that the epicenter was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, an area that has experienced minor earthquakes every few years, including a 3.3 magnitude quake in 2015. The official noted a loud sound accompanied the tremors.

 

PM urges residents to follow safety precautions

In response to the earthquake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged residents to "stay calm" and follow safety precautions, emphasizing the importance of being alert for potential aftershocks. 

Acting Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also acknowledged the event, praying for the safety of all.

Delhi is situated in a high seismic zone (zone IV) according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zonation map, making it susceptible to earthquakes. Just weeks ago, on January 23, significant tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR due to a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Xinjiang, China, followed by mild tremors on January 11 from a 6.1-magnitude quake in Afghanistan.

Prakash Kumar Pandey