Strong tremors shook Delhi and adjoining areas on Wednesday morning after a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Haryana’s Jhajjar district at around 9:04 am. The quake, which had a depth of 10 km according to the National Centre for Seismology, triggered panic across the National Capital Region (NCR), leading residents to evacuate homes and offices.
In several parts of Delhi, people rushed outdoors as ceiling fans, furniture, and household items swayed visibly. Office workers in Noida and Gurugram reported shaking computer systems, prompting many to step out into open spaces. The quake’s impact was felt widely across Haryana, including Gurugram, Rohtak, Dadri, and Bahadurgarh.
Tremors Felt Across Western Uttar Pradesh and Emergency Advisory Issued
The tremors extended as far as Meerut and Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh, nearly 200 km from the epicentre. Many people took to social media shortly after, with several users describing the tremors as unusually long — some even calling it “the longest in life.”
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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) issued an advisory urging people to remain calm and avoid elevators while evacuating. For those driving during the quake, the NDRF recommended stopping in an open space rather than continuing on the road.
Delhi’s Earthquake Risk: A Tectonic Reality
Delhi’s vulnerability to earthquakes is rooted in its geographical location. Situated in Seismic Zone 4, the capital lies near several active fault lines such as the Delhi-Haridwar Ridge, the Sohna Fault, the Delhi-Moradabad Fault, and the Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault.
According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the region’s seismicity is influenced by the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. “These colliding plates flex, storing energy like a spring, and when the plate’s margins finally slip to release energy, an earthquake results,” the DDMA states.
Since 1720, Delhi has experienced at least five earthquakes with magnitudes above 5.5, underscoring the need for consistent earthquake preparedness in the region.
