Delhi-NCR earthquake highlights: Tremors caused by weak rock layers, says report

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Delhi is in an active seismic zone because of the faults around the Delhi NCR region and its proximity to the very active Himalayas.

According to the National Center for Seismology, several weak zones and faults are near Delhi, such as the Delhi-Haridwar ridge, the Mahendragarh-Dehradun subsurface fault, the Moradabad fault, the Sohna fault, the great boundary fault, the Delhi-Sargodha ridge, the Yamuna River lineament, and the Ganga River lineament.

-With inputs from Jayashree Nandi

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: An earthquake of 4.0 magnitude struck Delhi early Monday morning around 5:36 am, with its epicentre beneath Jheel Park in Dhaula Kuan, as an analysis by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) found that the sequence of events occurred along a northwest-southeast trending lineament. Read more

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said in a report that the earthquake that shook Delhi early Monday was caused by "normal faulting," a type of ground movement often linked to underground water or past river deposits weakening the rocks.

"Major faults like the Sohna or Mathura Faults did not trigger this earthquake," said NCS head OP Mishra.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: CSIR Director Prof Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla told PTI, "The earthquake that hit Delhi in the morning at around 5.30 am was a mild quake. As per the earthquake zonation, Delhi is in Zone 4. This was a mild earthquake. Most of the people could feel it, but those who were in the open ground may not have been able to feel it."

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi wrote on X, “Super strong #earthquake early morning today in #Delhi - strong enough to make a lot of Delhiites awake. Felt as if #Rajnikanth Ji kept his phone on vibration mode.”

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Several places in Bihar were jolted by an earthquake of 4 magnitude that struck Siwan district on Monday morning. According to the Bihar Disaster Management Department (DMD), the tremors were felt in Siwan and other surrounding districts.

Talking to PTI, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management Department, Pratyaya Amrit said "There were no reports of any damage to property or loss of life due to the earthquake."

The tremors sparked panic in Siwan as people rushed out of buildings as a precautionary measure.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Sita Ram Bazar resident, Sundar Lal, initially mistook the noise for monkeys on the terrace.

"At first, we thought there were monkeys on our terrace making noise but then we realised it was an earthquake, so we all ran outside," he said.

"It was a very strong earthquake, and we were all terrified. But thankfully it didn't last long," he added.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Many Delhi residents were startled by strong jolts after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck the national capital and adjoining regions.

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

"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.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: A 20-25-year-old tree was uprooted at Jheel Park in Dhaula Kuan, near the epicentre of this morning's 4.0-magnitude earthquake. Park caretakers confirmed the damage caused by the tremors.

Strong tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas at 5:36 am today, following the 4.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the national capital. The quake originated just 5 km beneath the earth's surface.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: A senior scientist told PTI that the tremor which shook the national capital early on Monday was caused by natural variations in the region's geological features, not plate tectonics.

The 4.0 magnitude earthquake's epicenter was located in the Jheel Park area near Dhaula Kuan, and its shallow depth caused loud sounds to be heard as the earth shifted in nearby areas.

The Delhi region, situated in northern India, often experiences tremors due to both far-field earthquakes from the Himalayas and local sources.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Reports mentioned that people heard a loud sound as the ground trembled. The strong tremors caused residents in high-rise buildings across New Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad to rush out of their homes.

According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the city experiences high seismic activity, with earthquakes typically measuring between magnitudes 5-6, some reaching 6-7, and occasionally 7-8, making it a high-risk area.

Seismologist Ajay Paul told India Today, “It cannot be ruled out that this is a pre-shock for the main shock to come.”

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Union earth sciences minister Jitendra Singh said that authorities are closely monitoring the situation after strong 4.0 magnitude earthquake tremors hit parts of Delhi NCR.

“Following the #Earthquake tremors felt this morning in and around Delhi at about 5:36 AM, the authorities are keeping a close watch and professional experts as well officials in the Ministry of Earth Sciences (#MoES) are constantly monitoring. However, it is advised to stay calm and, exercise safety precautions and preparedness for possible aftershocks, if any. Meanwhile, regular updates are being shared by the department through its different communication channels and social media handles,” he said.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Earthquakes are relatively frequent in Delhi, with tremors sometimes felt in the area. A 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, last month also caused tremors to be felt throughout Delhi-NCR.

• The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) links the city's seismic activity to the Delhi-Haridwar Ridge, a significant geological structure.

• India is divided into seismic zones based on earthquake frequency; Delhi falls under Zone IV, which indicates “fairly high seismicity.” Due to its seismic classification, Delhi is considered a "high-risk area" for earthquakes.

• Most earthquakes in Delhi are of magnitude 5-6, while those of magnitude 7-8 are rare but possible. Only five earthquakes of magnitudes 5.5 to 6.7 have been recorded in Delhi and nearby areas since 1720.

• The Delhi-Haridwar Ridge and Delhi-Moradabad Fault are two major seismic lineaments passing through Delhi, making the city more prone to earthquakes. According to DDMA, both fault lines have the potential to generate earthquakes of up to MSK VIII intensity in the Delhi region.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: No immediate damage or injuries were reported, despite the strong tremors that shook the national capital this morning. Residents across the city described the quake as the “strongest ever” they had felt.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Talking about the sudden and intense tremors that struck the national capital early Monday morning, Anil, a resident of Nehru Nagar, told PTI that as soon as he felt the quake, he ran out of his house with his two-year-old daughter.

“There was a loud sound and strong jolts. My wife and I were very scared. The first thing we did was pick up our daughter and rush outside,” he said.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: The earthquake's epicentre was in the Jheel Park area of Dhaula Kuan in the national capital, with some residents reporting a loud sound as the ground trembled.

As the quake hit the capital around 5:36 am on Monday at a depth of five kilometres, people rushed out of their homes in panic.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the "epicentre" refers to the point directly above the earthquake's origin on the Earth's surface.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Anil Kumar, a resident of Sita Ram Bazar in Delhi, shared his experience of waking up to the earthquake tremors.

"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.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: Many Delhi residents were jolted awake as a 4.0-magnitude earthquake shook the national capital and nearby areas on Monday morning.

The intense tremors triggered panic, prompting people to rush out of their homes.

Anil Kumar, a resident of Sita Ram Bazar, told PTI that he had never experienced such strong tremors before.

Dr OP Mishra, director for the national centre for seismology, told news agency ANI that there is nothing to worry about the magnitude 4 earthquake that hit Delhi NCR on Monday.

He said that after the earthquake, "the aftershock will be less by 1.2 magnitude, it is natural as it will heal it".

An earthquake jolted the people of Delhi and its surrounding areas up from their sleep on Monday morning. The earthquake was of a magnitude 4 on the Richter scale. Many people, however, claimed they had never felt such a strong jolt.

Srijan Pal Singh, the former advisor to the 11th President of India and founder of Kalam Centre and Homi lab, explained the phenomenon on X.

He said that the residents felt "bigger tremors than ever before" because the epicenter was in Delhi itself. “This is how quakes feel at the epicenter," he said.

Read full report here

The magnitude 4 earthquake that hit Delhi-NCR areas early on Monday startled residents, with many of them saying that they have felt 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," said Anil Kumar, a resident of Sita Ram Bazar.

Kumar said that he is also a heart patient, due to which he panicked even more, as he has never experienced such tremors before.

Anil, a resident of Nehru Nagar, said that he rushed out of his house with his two-year-old daughter.

"There was a loud sound and strong jolts. My wife and I were very scared. The first thing we did was pick up our daughter and rush outside," he said.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged residents of Delhi and nearby areas to remain calm and adhere to safety guidelines after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake shook the national capital region early in the morning.

In a post on X, he also advised everyone to stay vigilant for possible aftershocks.

"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," PM Modi said.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: The earthquake, with its epicentre in New Delhi, occurred at a depth of five kilometres at 5.36 am.

As confirmed by an official speaking to PTI, the epicentre was located near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan.

The area, which has a nearby lake, has experienced smaller, low-magnitude quakes every two to three years. The official added that it previously recorded a 3.3-magnitude earthquake in 2015.

A loud noise was also reported at the time of the quake.

The strong tremors caused residents of multiple high-rise buildings in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad to rush outside.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: A passenger waiting for his train at the New Delhi Railway station said he was in the waiting lounge when he felt the tremors.

"I was in the waiting lounge and suddenly around 5.36 am we felt really strong tremors. We felt as if the bridge was collapsing...." the passenger told ANI.

A local from Noida mentioned that it felt like the whole building was shaking.

"At 5:35 a.m, the whole building was shaking...Our whole family ran outside the home. I have never felt such strong tremors of an earthquake. We are all safe..." he said.

Another local from Ghaziabad shared that he had never experienced such tremors before.

Delhi NCR earthquake live updates: After a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook the national capital and nearby areas, Noida resident Amit recalls, "At 5:35 am, the entire building was shaking... My whole family rushed outside. I’ve never experienced such strong tremors before. Thankfully, we’re all safe."