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A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haryana, sending strong tremors across Delhi-NCR. Over 30+ regions felt the quake, sparking panic and emergency alerts
Strong tremors were felt across the Delhi-NCR region on Thursday morning after a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck near Jhajjar in Haryana at 9.04 am. People in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon were seen rushing out of buildings and homes, however, no initial loss to any life or damage to any property has been reported.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake had a depth of 10km and was recorded at 9:04am.
Apart from the national capital, the tremors were also felt in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad in the National Capital Region, apart from parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
People on social media said that the intensity of the tremors scared them, with even the cupboards being forced open due to the jolts.
“We felt the tremors…It was really scary, my vehicle shook. It was really strong,” an eyewitness told the news agency ANI.
Another eyewitness in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad said that he felt someone was shaking the whole shop he was sitting in.
“The tremors felt quite strong. I was at a shop when it hit, it felt as if someone was shaking the shop,” he said.
On February 17, similar tremors were felt in the region after a 4.0 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in south Delhi’s Dhaula Kuan was recorded.
Data from the NCS showed the region has recorded another 446 earthquakes between 1993 to 2025 within a 50 sq km radius of the Dhaula Kuan epicentre, ranging from a magnitude of 1.1 to 4.6, highlighting the high seismic activity of the region.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) classifies the entire country into four seismic groups – ranging from zone II (low intensity) to zone V (very severe).
Delhi and NCR falls into zone IV (severe) according to this categorization, making seismic activity a fairly common occurrence and Thursday’s earthquake no anomaly.
While Delhi has three active fault lines running through it — the Sohna, Mathura and Delhi-Moradabad fault lines, the neighbouring Haryana region has seven such lines running across it. Delhi’s proximity to the Himalayan region, which also is in a high seismic zone, further makes the capital prone to receiving aftershocks, experts said.
In a sudden and alarming development, a strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haryana on Wednesday, sending intense tremors across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and parts of North India.
The quake, which lasted for nearly 30 seconds, caused panic among residents, prompting people to rush out of homes, offices, and high-rise buildings. No major casualties or structural damages have been reported so far, but the event has reignited fears of seismic vulnerability in the densely populated region.
Magnitude: 6.2 on the Richter scale
Epicenter: Near Jhajjar, Haryana
Depth: Approximately 10 km
Time of Occurrence: Around 2:15 PM IST
Tremors Felt In: Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Chandigarh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan
Aftershocks: Mild aftershocks were reported approximately 15 minutes after the initial quake
As the ground began to shake, office buildings, schools, and shopping malls across Delhi-NCR were quickly evacuated. Videos flooded social media showing swaying ceiling fans, rattling windows, and people running down stairwells and gathering in open spaces.
Residents from over 30 districts in the NCR including New Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, Noida Sector-62, Gurugram’s Cyber Hub, and Faridabad Sector-15, reported moderate to strong tremors. In Gurugram, many IT companies halted work as employees gathered outside in designated safe zones. Schools and hospitals followed emergency protocols and cleared buildings swiftly.
“It felt like the floor was rippling under my feet. I grabbed my kids and rushed outside,” said Priya Arora, a resident of East Delhi.
Within minutes of the quake, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) activated emergency hotlines and issued safety advisories. The Delhi Fire Department received over 20 panic calls, though no fires or injuries were reported.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily halted metro services for safety inspections. Metro trains were stopped at the nearest stations and resumed only after thorough checks. Airport authorities in Delhi also carried out runway inspections and issued a temporary advisory for flight delays.
The Haryana State Disaster Management Cell deployed rapid response teams to assess any damage in Jhajjar and surrounding areas, where the epicenter was located. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that this was a moderate to strong earthquake and not an aftershock of any recent seismic activity.
Seismologists have long warned that North India, particularly the Indo-Gangetic plains and Himalayan foothills, fall within Seismic Zone IV and V, making them highly vulnerable to earthquakes.
Dr. Anil Gupta, a senior seismologist with the IMD, explained, “The region lies close to the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which are constantly colliding. This energy build-up can lead to sudden seismic releases like the one witnessed today.”
Delhi-NCR has experienced minor to moderate quakes several times in the past five years, but today’s 6.2 magnitude quake was among the strongest in recent memory. Experts emphasize the need for structural audits of high-rise buildings, earthquake-resistant construction, and public drills.
The latest earthquake is a reminder of previous major quakes in northern India:
- 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake – Magnitude 6.8
- 2001 Bhuj Earthquake – Magnitude 7.7
- 2005 Kashmir Earthquake – Magnitude 7.6
- 2015 Nepal Earthquake – Magnitude 7.8, tremors felt across Delhi-NCR
- 2023 Nepal Series Quakes – Multiple tremors felt in northern India
Each of these events led to significant casualties and damages, underscoring the importance of preparedness.
Ensure your building is seismically safe
Identify safe spots like doorframes, under sturdy furniture
Keep emergency kits ready
Drop, Cover, and Hold On
Stay indoors if already inside
Avoid elevators and glass windows
- Check for gas leaks and electrical damage
- Avoid using open flames
- Stay tuned to official advisories
NDMA has also announced plans to conduct mock drills in schools and workplaces across Delhi-NCR within the next two weeks to boost preparedness.
Fortunately, no deaths or large-scale destruction have been reported as of now. However, cracks were reported in a few residential buildings in Jhajjar and Gurugram, and minor injuries were sustained by three individuals during the evacuation of a commercial complex in Noida.
The event has triggered renewed calls for seismic retrofitting of older buildings, many of which are not up to code. Urban planning experts argue that rapid urbanization without proper structural regulation makes the region increasingly vulnerable.
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