An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday morning. The earthquake occured at 09:00 a.m. on July 10, coinciding with monsoon rains. The earthquake was centred in Jhajjar, Haryana. The tremors of the earthquake were felt in Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and other areas. This caused panic among residents, raising questions of possible danger?
Panic Among Citizens
Delhi-NCR has been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday evening. After overnight rain, the earthquake on Thursday morning left people in surprise and fear. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 km. It was previously reported as 5 km. The tremors were strongly felt across Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. The tremors continued for 10 seconds.
The shaking made frightened residents rush out of their homes onto the already wet streets. Some said the sound of thunder also came from inside the earth. There were no major damages reported right away. No injuries were reported either. However, the combination of rain and seismic activity highlighted increased risks.
Is Delhi Prone to Earthquakes?
Delhi-NCR is classified within Seismic Zone IV, which means it has a moderate to high risk of seismic activity. This vulnerability exists because of its distance of about 250 km from the Himalayan collision zone. The Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet there, building up stress. This stress is released as earthquakes.
Several fault lines run through the Delhi area, including: Delhi-Haridwar Ridge, Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault, Sohna Fault and Yamuna River Lineament.
These fault lines increase Delhi’s susceptibility to earthquakes. Areas like Dhaula Kuan, which have underlying lakes, have historically experienced minor quakes every 2-3 years, including a 3.3 magnitude tremor in 2015.
In February this year, an earthquake of 4.0 magnitude with its epicenter in Dhaula Kuan gave severe jolts to Delhi-NCR. In April, an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude hit Hindukush in Afghanistan. These jolts were also felt in Delhi. The most powerful earthquake recorded in the history of Delhi was the 6.0 magnitude earthquake on August 27, 1960.
Also read: Strong Earthquake Jolts Delhi-NCR; Residents Rush Out of Homes
Earthquake During Rain: Heightened Risks
The overlap of rainfall and earthquakes can significantly raise natural hazards. Monsoon rains in Delhi-NCR can weaken soil, building foundations, and road infrastructure, making them more vulnerable to earthquake damage.
This can cause soil erosion, damage to high-rise buildings, impact on roads and transport etc. There may also be damage from aftershocks.
Dr. O.P. Mishra, Director of the National Centre for Seismology, noted that a 4.4 magnitude earthquake can be followed by aftershocks of up to 1.2 magnitude. Soil instability from the rain can make these aftershocks more dangerous.
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