NEW DELHI: Tremors of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter Scale hit the Northern part of India early Monday morning. The national capital and its neighbouring areas felt the earthquake at 5.36 am first followed by another of the same magnitude that jolted Bihar at 8.02 am.
However, the residents of Delhi-NCR recounted the moment and said they also heard a loud sound.
As Delhi-NCR was jolted by an early morning earthquake, National Centre for Seismology director, OP Mishra said, “The epicentre was at Jheel Park in Dhaula Kuan, it was a 4.0 magnitude earthquake. It was at a depth of 5 km, which is called shallow depth, hence people felt the effect. People getting panicked was natural. Seismologically, it is not a new region, earthquakes have happened earlier in the region. Earlier, there was a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in the 6 km periphery, but it was deeper, with a 10 km depth. There is a difference. It was not a plate tectonic earthquake, it was due to in situ material heterogeneity, and it was due to local effect. We can expect an aftershock of around 1 or 1.2 magnitude.”
Why the loud sound?
Seismologists say the booming noise accompanying the tremors was due to the shallow depth of the earthquake. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), high-frequency vibrations from shallow-focus quakes generate sound waves as the ground shakes. The closer the quake is to the surface, the more energy and noise it produces. In some cases, even when tremors are not strongly felt, earthquakes can create booming sounds.
Delhi’s earthquake risk: A seismic hotspot
Delhi falls under Seismic Zone IV, which signifies a fairly high earthquake risk, as per the Delhi disaster management authority. The region is vulnerable to quakes measuring between 5.0 and 6.0, with occasional tremors reaching magnitudes of 7.0 or higher.
The seismic activity in North India is primarily driven by the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which store enormous energy before eventually releasing it as earthquakes. Shallow earthquakes, such as the one recorded today, tend to be more damaging due to their proximity to the surface.
The Dhaula Kuan area, the epicentre of today’s quake, has a history of minor tremors every two to three years, with a 3.3-magnitude quake recorded in 2015.
Residents recall terrifying moments
The tremors startled many residents in the early hours, with social media flooded with videos and reactions. CCTV footage from a Delhi residence captured water tanks and wires swaying violently as the quake struck.
At New Delhi Railway Station, a passenger likened the tremors to a “bridge collapse.”
“I was in the waiting lounge when everything started shaking. People rushed outside, thinking something had collapsed,” he said.
Another resident described the experience as “one of the most intense earthquakes” they had ever felt.
“It was like a train passing right next to my house. Everything was shaking. I’ve never felt anything like this before,” they said.
Authorities respond, urge caution
Following the quake, the Delhi Police reassured citizens and urged them to remain cautious. “We hope you all are safe, Delhi. For emergencies, call 112,” they posted on X (formerly Twitter).