New Delhi, February 17 – A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck Delhi and its surrounding areas early Monday morning, waking up residents and sending many running out of their homes in panic. The tremors, which were felt across the city, caused momentary chaos, though no casualties or significant damage were reported.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 5:36 AM with its epicenter located in the Jheel Park area of Dhaula Kuan at a depth of 5 kilometers. Some residents in the vicinity reported hearing loud noises accompanying the tremors.
Many locals described the intensity of the tremors as alarming. Anil Kumar, a resident of Sitaram Bazaar, said that he had never experienced such a strong jolt before. He recounted how he felt his house shake violently, prompting him and his wife to grab their child and rush outside.
Another resident, Sundar Lal, initially mistook the vibrations for monkeys creating a ruckus on the rooftop. However, he soon realized it was an earthquake and quickly evacuated. "It was a very strong jolt, and we were all terrified," he said, adding that the shaking, though intense, did not last long.
In Budh Vihar, CCTV footage captured a car’s horn suddenly going off as the tremors struck, highlighting the impact of the quake.
In West Delhi, resident Deepa described being shocked and frightened by the tremors, comparing them to a similar earthquake in 2012, but stating that this one felt much stronger.
Anil, a resident of Nehru Nagar, spoke to PTI-Videos about the loud noise and sudden jolts that startled him and his family. "As soon as we felt the tremors, my wife and I grabbed our two-year-old daughter and ran outside," he said.
Delhi Police took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to reassure citizens, stating, "Delhi, we hope you all are safe." They also urged residents to call emergency helpline number 112 if they required assistance.
