Earthquake in Delhi: Is there possibility of aftershocks in NCR?
What's the story
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake jolted the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) early Monday morning, sending residents into a state of panic. The tremors were felt at 5:36am with the epicenter near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at a depth of five kilometers.
Aftershock alert
PM Modi urges calm, warns of possible aftershocks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged residents to remain calm and follow safety precautions. He also warned them to stay alert for possible aftershocks. "Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks," he wrote on X. The strong tremors prompted many residents in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad to rush out of their homes.
Aftershock prediction
Environmentalist predicts low chance of significant aftershocks
Dr. Suman Gupta, an environmentalist, said that although Delhi lies in seismic zone IV with fairly high seismicity, the possibility of major aftershocks is low, according to Livemint. However, she said minor aftershocks could be felt within 8-12 hours of the initial quake. Dr. OP Mishra from NCS said that after a 4.0 magnitude earthquake, any possible aftershocks would be lower by 1.2 magnitudes.
Emergency response
Delhi Police issue emergency contact, no immediate reports of damage
Delhi Police has advised people to contact the emergency number 112 for help and asked people to reach out if they need assistance. Despite the strong tremors, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The Dhaula Kuan area has witnessed low-magnitude quakes every two to three years, with a previous earthquake of magnitude 3.3 recorded in 2015. The region's proximity to several seismic faults makes it prone to such events.