4.0-magnitude earthquake jolts Delhi-NCR, Bihar's Siwan
What's the story
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) early Monday morning. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the tremor was felt at 5:36am. The tremor, which had its epicentre in New Delhi, occurred at a depth of five kilometers, according to NCS. Residents in high-rise buildings across Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad felt strong tremors and rushed out of their homes for safety.
Aftershock alert
Residents advised to remain vigilant for aftershocks
An expert from the seismology department told PTI that the epicentre of the Delhi earthquake occurred near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan. The Dhaula Kuan neighborhood, which has a lake nearby, has been witnessing low-magnitude earthquakes every two to three years. Despite the strong tremors, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. A loud sound accompanied the earthquake, adding to the panic among residents.
Twitter Post
PM urges citizens to stay calm
Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2025
Siwan
Bihar earthquake at 8:00am
A 4.0-magnitude earthquake also struck Siwan, Bihar, at 8:02am on Monday, mere hours after a same-magnitude earthquake struck Delhi-NCR. According to the NCS, this earthquake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers. In a statement on X, NCS reported: "Earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on 17/02/2025 at 08:02:08 IST, Latitude: 25.93 N, Longitude: 84.42 E, Depth: 10 km, Location: Siwan, Bihar."
Seismic history
Delhi's seismic vulnerability and recent tremors
Delhi falls in Seismic Zone IV and is vulnerable to moderate to strong earthquakes because of its closeness to the seismically active Himalayan collision zone. The city often experiences tremors due to earthquakes originating in the Himalayas, Afghanistan, or China. Earlier this year, on January 23, Delhi-NCR felt strong tremors of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in China's Xinjiang.