A mild earthquake jolted Delhi on Tuesday morning, briefly sending residents into a state of panic. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that the tremor measured 2.8 on the Richter scale and struck at around 8:44 am.
Officials said the epicentre was located in North Delhi, at a shallow depth of approximately five kilometres. While the quake was not strong enough to cause damage, its sudden impact prompted many residents to rush out of their homes as a precautionary measure.
Delhi lies in Seismic Zone IV, which is considered the second-highest risk category for earthquakes. The Delhi-NCR region has witnessed several tremors of around 4 magnitude in recent years. In 2022, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in neighbouring Haryana, though no major damage was reported.
According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Delhi has not experienced an earthquake of magnitude 5 or higher in the past decade. Earlier this month, a mild 3.5-magnitude earthquake was reported near Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand.
Though the tremor was minor, it served as a reminder of the region’s seismic vulnerability and the need for continued preparedness.
