Earthquake in Delhi: An earthquake measuring 6.4 on a richer scale has struck Delhi NCR. The epicenter of the earthquake is said to be Nepal. The tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR, but local officials had no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.
Tremors were felt in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and some other parts of northern India late on Friday night as an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Nepal. According to the National Center for Seismology, the epicenter of the earthquake was in Nepal, at a depth of 10 km.
“Earthquake with magnitude: 6.4, occurred on 03-11-2023, 23:32:54 IST, Lat: 28.84 and long: 82.19, depth: 10 km,” NCS said in its message on X. The people quickly moved to the roads as the strong tremors lasted for more than a minute.
Epicenter of the Delhi earthquake
The National Center for Seismology said the earthquake’s epicenter was in Nepal, about 227 km north of Ayodhya and 331 km west northwest of Kathmandu. The focal depth of the earthquake was 10 km, the NCS added.
“The tremors were felt for quite some time as we watched television and enjoyed the weekend,” said Inderjit Singh, a resident of Gurugram.
Gopal, a resident of Ghaziabad, said the tremors were felt for more than 15 seconds. “I also heard the windows rattling.” Tremors were felt across northern India and parts of Bihar. It is the third time in a month that Nepal has been hit by major earthquakes. The latest earthquake was also felt in parts of Noida and Greater Noida, bordering Delhi, forcing several people living in high-rise buildings to vacate their buildings.
The tremors caused panic among people, who left their homes in various places in Patna and Katihar as a precaution. The earthquake was also felt in parts of northern India, including the national capital region, the officials added.
Reasons why Delhi NCR is prone to earthquakes
These are the reasons why Delhi NCR receives so many earthquakes throughout the year.
Geological factors
- Location on the boundary of the Indian-Eurasian plate: Delhi lies on the border of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which are constantly moving towards each other. This movement can cause tension in the earth’s crust, which can ultimately lead to earthquakes.
- Active fault lines: There are several active fault lines in and around Delhi NCR, including the Sohna fault, the Mathura fault and the Delhi-Moradabad fault. These fault lines can shift and cause earthquakes if they are caused by tectonic activity.
- Soft ground: Delhi NCR is built on soft ground, which can amplify the tremors caused by earthquakes. This could make earthquakes in the region more destructive, according to Adda247.