Delhi Earthquake Today: Jhajjar Epicentre, Panic in NCR

A mild but disturbing earthquake hit residents of Delhi and north India early Wednesday morning. While it did not provide enough concern for many to fret, it did indicate enough concern for a lot of individuals. It appeared to trigger a lot of activity on social media. The earthquake was reported as 4.4 on a Richter scale. Originating from the Jhajjar district in Haryana, it struck the earth at about 9:04 a.m.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake was about 10 km deep. No injuries, or damages, were reported. Though the tremor was felt and reported over a large swath of the area. It included western Uttar Pradesh such as Meerut and Shamli, which are approximately 200 km from the epicentre.

General Panic Across NCR

In Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and neighbouring NCR areas, many people fled their homes and offices once the shaking started. Ceiling fans, light fixtures, and furniture were visibly moving. Computer screens and chairs were seen shifting because of the shaking in business districts like Gurugram and Noida.

In apartment complexes, frightened residents poured into the streets. Many characterized as their “longest shake”. “A resident of South Delhi said, ‘It felt like it lasted for at least 15-20 seconds.’ Offices evacuated workers temporarily for safety.” Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Also Experience The Impacts

Besides the National Capital Region, certain cities from Haryana like Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Dadri and Gurugram experienced decent tremors. Similarly cities in Meerut and Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, felt tremors from the earthquake. It was moderately sized but considerable in its impacts given the large dense population and infrastructural aspects from such areas.

NDRF Releases An Advisory For Panic Prevention

Shortly after the earthquake occurred, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) issued a public disclaimer encouraging people to stay calm. The NDRF advised people to avoid elevators and take stairs in case of tremors. Also, to go to the open when outside to avoid buildings. Drivers were to make the best and safe evaluation by pulling over to an open area

The quick advisory helped to settle the worries if the public, especially those that were worried and not sure what to do.

Reasoning Too If Delhi is Earthquake Prone

Delhi does have a history with being earthquake prone and it is in Seismic Zone 4 – which is one of the riskier areas of India.The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) indicates that this threat exists primarily due to the city’s proximity to active fault lines and the city’s location next to the Himalayan seismic belt.

The Indian tectonic plate continuously pushes into the Eurasian plate which causes subterranean stress to accumulate. When it is released abruptly, earthquakes occur. The capital is situated along multiple active fault lines including the:

• Delhi-Haridwar Range
• Sohna Fault
• Delhi-Moradabad Fault
• Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fracture

These geological vulnerabilities produce constant anxiety about an earthquake occurring in the capital, those being either minor or major.

Historical Context

Delhi has encountered a number of significant earthquakes in its past, At least since 1720, there have been 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or higher. Although the earthquake on Wednesday was not very high on the magnitude scale, the magnitude was still felt strongly enough and reached a wide enough area that it sparked plenty of public interest.

In the news: Social Media Explodes

As is customary with anything that happens in the capital area, the earthquake was trending news today on all social media. On X (Twitter), hashtags like #DelhiEarthquake and #EarthquakeInNCR started to trend as many users took to sharing their thoughts and experiences.

Many posts laced with sarcasm entertained the confusion of professionals leaving Zoom calls unexpectedly, while others expressed fear that a larger earthquake was now inevitable for a city once considered Earthquake-proof.

The 4.4 magnitude earthquake from Haryana did not create bodily harm, but it drew focus to the seismic hazard for residents in Delhi and other regions. More so, it illustrated the importance of public knowledge and preparedness for `disasters´.
Officials are still keeping tabs on tectonic activity in the area and are advising that everyone remain prepared and vigilant.

Residents are highly encouraged to be familiar with emergency measures and best practices for tremors and earthquakes, as stated by representative mass organisations like the NCS and NDRF when they happen, so that they can take mitigation actions for a future earthquake.