NEW DELHI: A mild earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale shook Delhi-NCR early Monday morning. The National Center for Seismology reported that the earthquake hit at 5:36 am with its epicenter in New Delhi, at a depth of five kilometers.
Officials said the earthquake's center was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan. The area, which has a lake nearby, has experienced small tremors every few years, including a 3.3-magnitude quake in 2015.
Many people felt a loud sound when the tremors began. The shaking was strong enough to make residents of high-rise buildings in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad rush outside in fear.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, urging people to stay calm and follow safety guidelines. He also assured that authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
The the departmemt of Delhi Police also shared a message on social media X, saying, "We hope you all are safe, Delhi!" and advised people to call emergency helpline 112 if they needed help.
Aam AAdmi Chief Atishi od Delhi also posted, "A strong earthquake just hit Delh, I pray that everyone is safe." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also reshared her post, saying he was praying for everyone’s safety. AICC spokesperson Ragini Nayak described the experience on X, saying, "Strong tremors were felt 10 minutes ago in Delhi. It woke us up from sleep. Hope everyone is safe."
Delhi is in seismic zone IV, meaning it is at high risk of earthquakes. The city has experienced many quakes over the years. In 1960, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake caused some damage in New Delhi. In 2001 and 2004, quakes happened due to underground rock movements. In 2007, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake occurred when two rock layers slid past each other.
Another Earthquake hits Bihar:
A mild earthquake of 4.0 magnitude shook Bihar’s Siwan on Monday morning. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the quake occurred at 8:02 AM at a depth of 10 km. Just a few hours earlier, another earthquake of the same magnitude struck Delhi-NCR at 5.36am. It was recorded at a depth of 5 km. The sudden tremors in Delhi caused panic, with many residents rushing out of their homes.
Delhi Climate
Meanwhile, Delhi is slowly getting warmer as summer approaches, with temperatures expected to reach around 30°C by the end of February. However, some parts of the city might see light rain in the coming week, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).