On Tuesday, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Nepal, sending strong tremors across North India, including the National Capital Region (NCR). The seismic activity consisted of four significant earthquakes occurring within an hour, causing panic among residents and leading to building evacuations in some areas.
The sequence of earthquakes began at 2:25 PM IST when the first earthquake, measuring 4.6 in magnitude, rattled the region. Just 25 minutes later, a much stronger earthquake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, jolted the area again. This was followed by a third earthquake, registering 3.8 in magnitude, 15 minutes after the second one. Thirteen minutes later, at 3:19 PM IST, a fourth earthquake with a magnitude of 3.1 shook the region once more.
The epicenter of the most powerful quake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, was located 206 kilometers southeast of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 kilometers north of Lucknow. This significant seismic activity was felt not only in Nepal but also in Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR).
In response to the tremors, people rushed out of buildings, and videos of the panicked evacuations flooded social media platforms. Delhi Police issued a statement urging residents to evacuate buildings and seek safety in open areas while avoiding elevators. They also provided an emergency contact number, 112, for assistance.
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Tremors were reported in approximately 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Hapur, and Amroha. Among the districts bordering Nepal, five of them experienced the tremors. Parts of Uttarakhand also felt the ground shake. The impact of the quakes extended to Chandigarh, Jaipur, and other parts of North India, according to the news agency PTI.
As of now, there have been no reports of damage, injuries, or deaths from Nepal. The country lies within one of the world’s most active tectonic zones (Seismic Zone IV and V), making it highly susceptible to earthquakes. In April 2015, Nepal experienced a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that resulted in over 8,000 fatalities and more than 21,000 injuries.