Residents of North India experienced strong tremors early Monday morning as two earthquakes struck the region. The first tremor, measuring 4.0 in magnitude, hit Delhi-NCR at around 5:36 AM, prompting residents of high-rise buildings in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad to rush out of their homes in alarm. Officials confirmed that the epicentre was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, at a depth of five kilometres. No casualties or significant damage were reported.
The National Center for Seismology later reported another earthquake of 4.0 magnitude in Bihar’s Siwan district at 8:02 AM. The tremors in both locations were strong enough to be felt across neighbouring states.
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to remain calm and follow safety protocols. “Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. I urge everyone to stay calm, take precautions, and remain alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation,” he posted on X. The Delhi Police also reassured residents with a post stating, “We hope you all are safe, Delhi!” and advised them to use the emergency helpline 112 if needed.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed concern, praying for the safety of all residents.
Delhi-NCR is no stranger to seismic activity. On January 23, strong tremors were felt in the region after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Xinjiang, China. Earlier, on January 11, another earthquake measuring 6.1 in magnitude had hit Afghanistan, causing mild tremors in North India.
Located around 250 kilometres from the seismically active Himalayan collision zone, Delhi frequently experiences tremors from both regional and local sources. Some previous significant earthquakes include a 3.5-magnitude tremor on April 12, 2020, a 3.4-magnitude tremor on May 10, 2020, in northeast Delhi, and a 4.4-magnitude earthquake near Rohtak on May 29, 2020, accompanied by several aftershocks.
Being part of Seismic Zone IV, Delhi is considered at moderate to high risk for earthquakes, particularly those originating in the Himalayan region. Authorities continue to monitor seismic activities closely to ensure preparedness for future incidents.