Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 shakes Delhi, tremors felt across NCR

According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred at 5.45 pm. Its epicentre was in NCT Delhi at the depth of 8 km

An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 with epicentre in Delhi shook the national Capital Region on Sunday. The tremors prompted panic-stricken people to rush out of their residences.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the quake occurred at 5.45 pm.Its epicentre was in Wazirabad in northeast Delhi at the depth of 8 km, said J L Gautam, head (operations) at NCS. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.

There were no reports of loss of life or damage to property. Delhi falls under the fourth of the five seismic zones. It is rare that Delhi has been the epicentre of an earthquake. The city, however, feels tremors when a quake occurs even as far as central Asia or in the Himalayan range, which is a high seismic zone.  

An earthquake of magnitude 2.8 had hit the national capital in 2004. Another quake of magnitude 3.4 was recorded in the city in 2001, according to an official data. 

In Delhi's adjoining western Uttar Pradesh, Bulandshahr had recorded an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 on October 10, 1956, while Mordabad registered a 5.8 magnitude quake on August 15, 1966.

As the tremors were felt, many people rushed out of their homes to seek refuge in open.

"Tremors felt in Delhi. Hope everyone is safe.  I pray for the safety of each one of you," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted

S Damle, a resident of East Delhi said, "I felt my chair shaking and there was a loud rumbling sound. It was really frightening."

"We were watching TV and suddenly felt the tremors. We ran out of the house. Few of our neighbours had also gathered outside. We greeted them from a distance and returned to the house," said Arefa Sultana, a resident of Lajpat Nagar 1.

People have been staying at home due to the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.