Strong earthquake tremors felt in Delhi-NCR, residents flee homes in panic

Dubai: Strong earthquake tremors shook the Delhi-NCR region on Thursday morning, causing concern and brief panic in some areas.

The quake, estimated at a magnitude of 4.4 on the Richter scale, originated in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, ANI reported.

Media reports say residents in several parts of Delhi evacuated their homes as fans and household items swayed. The tremors were also felt in office buildings in Noida and Gurugram around 9:00 am local time.

The shaking extended as far as Meerut and Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh, about 200 km from the Jhajjar epicenter, and was felt across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Punjab.

After the earthquake, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) issued a safety advisory, urging people to stay calm and avoid using elevators while exiting buildings—recommending staircases instead. For those driving during the tremors, the NDRF advised stopping safely in an open area.

Many residents took to social media to share their experiences and videos.

“We felt the tremors... It was really scary, my vehicle shook. It was really strong,” an eyewitness told news agency ANI.

A man in Ghaziabad, UP, told ANI, "I woke up just as the jolt struck. It was frightening. There was another earthquake just a few days ago. Since earthquakes are quite common in Delhi-NCR, we must remain vigilant and follow safety precautions."

A similar earthquake struck the Delhi-NCR region on February 17, with a magnitude of 4.0 and a depth of 5 km, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremors were felt at 5:36 AM, prompting many residents to rush out of their homes. NCS had posted: "Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.0, Occurred on 17-02-24, 5:36 AM IST, Lat: 28.59°N & Long: 77.16°E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: 9 km E of New Delhi."

According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the city falls under Seismic Zone IV—classified as a “High Damage Risk Zone”—indicating a significant likelihood of moderate to strong earthquakes.