4.0 magnitude quake jolts Delhi-NCR, strong tremors felt across region

NEW DELHI, FEB 17 : An earthquake of 4.0 magnitude rocked parts of Delhi-NCR early on Monday, causing widespread panic among residents.

The epicentre was located near Dhaula Kuan, a bustling area in the city, sending vibrations through buildings and rattling nerves. The shaking produced sounds reminiscent of a high-speed vehicle passing underneath, alarming those still asleep.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries. The earthquake, with its epicentre in New Delhi, struck at a depth of five kilometres at 5:36 am, it said in a post on X.

Hours later, an earthquake of 4.0 magnitude was reported in Bihar at around 8.27 am.

According to the National Centre of Seismology, the epicentre of the quake which originated from just 10 km under the earth’s surface, was in Bihar’s Siwan district.

No damage or casualties have been reported from Bihar so far.

In Delhi, the tremors caused people to rush out of their homes in fear.

“It felt like the ground was moving beneath me,” said Devendra Singh, a resident of central Delhi.

“I couldn’t believe it was an earthquake,” he added.

The tremor was also felt across various parts of the city, including South Delhi, East Delhi, and parts of Noida.

Mohan Kumar, a doctor residing in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, shared his terrifying experience: “My wife and I were so scared that she began shivering in fear. We both rushed outside immediately.”

The epicentre of the tremor was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, an official told PTI.

That region, which has a lake nearby, has been experiencing smaller, low-magnitude quakes once every two to three years. It recorded an earthquake of 3.3 magnitude in 2015, he said.

A loud sound was also heard when the earthquake hit, the official added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X, “Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.”

Visuals from PTI Videos showed people waiting outside their homes across Delhi-NCR, fearful of any aftershock.

Anil Kumar, a resident of Sita Ram Bazar, said he never experienced such tremors before.

“When I woke up, I felt a strong vibration and got scared. My wife and I immediately woke up our child and rushed outside,” Kumar said.

“I am a heart patient, so I panicked even more,” he added.

Ratanlal Sharma, who was waiting at New Delhi railway station for a train to Prayagraj, said he was at the platform when he felt a sudden jolt.

“It felt like a train suddenly came to a screeching halt,” he said.

A resident of a high-rise in Ghaziabad said the tremors were so strong that everyone rushed downstairs in panic.

In a post on X, The Delhi Police said, “We hope you all are safe, Delhi!” It also urged citizens to call on the emergency 112 helpline for emergencies.

AAP leader Atishi said on X, “A strong earthquake just hit Delhi. I pray to God that everyone is safe.”

Resharing Atishi’s post, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said, “I pray for safety of everyone.”

“Massive tremors were felt 10 minutes back in Delhi, woke us up from sleep. I hope and pray everyone is safe and sound,” AICC national spokesperson Ragini Nayak said in a post on X.

The National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi is located about 250 kilometres from the seismically-active Himalayan collision zone and frequently experiences far- and near-field shaking due to Himalayan and local sources, respectively.

A 3.5-magnitude quake on April 12, 2020 and a 3.4-magnitude one on May 10, 2020, in northeast Delhi and a 4.4-magnitude earthquake on May 29, 2020, near Rohtak (about 50 kilometres west of Delhi), followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, sparked panic in the densely populated habitat.

Delhi is placed in Seismic Zone IV in the seismic zoning map of India.

This intraplate region is exposed to moderate to high risk due to Himalayan earthquakes.

-PTI