Strong tremors rattled Delhi and its adjoining areas early Monday morning after a 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck the region. The sudden jolt caused panic among residents, who rushed out of their homes as buildings and structures swayed. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or major damage.

According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of just 5 km, making the impact more intense. Experts note that shallow earthquakes—those occurring at depths of 5 to 10 km—are often more destructive than deeper ones.

Panic Grips Residents as Buildings Shake

Several Delhi-NCR residents took to social media, sharing videos of electric poles, ceiling fans, and solar panels swaying due to the tremors. One such video showed shocked commuters at New Delhi Railway Station pausing in disbelief as the quake momentarily disrupted their routine.

A woman in her 50s, who was on her morning walk in Noida's E Block, Sector 20, recalled the moment, saying, "'Hum log bahar park me walk kar rahe the toh pata nahin chala. Lekin kafi tej tha. Log bahar aa gaye.' (We were walking in the park, so we didn't feel it strongly. But it was quite strong. People came rushing out.)"

Another eyewitness, Ratanlal Sharma, who was waiting at New Delhi Railway Station for his train to Prayagraj, described the tremors as a sudden jolt similar to a train coming to a screeching halt.

Delhi’s Seismic Risk

Delhi is located just 250 km from the seismically active Himalayan collision zone and frequently experiences tremors from both near and distant earthquakes. It falls under Seismic Zone IV, the second-highest earthquake hazard zone in India, making it vulnerable to moderate to severe earthquakes.