New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged residents of Delhi and surrounding areas to stay calm and follow safety protocols after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) areas early in the morning.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister also advised everyone to remain alert for potential aftershocks.
“Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation,” PM Modi said.
An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale hit Delhi-NCR early Monday at a depth of 5 km, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The strong tremors were felt at 5:36 AM. The sudden jolts prompted residents to rush out of their homes in panic.
There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:4.0, Occurred on 17-02-24, 5:36 AM IST, Lat: 28.59°N & Long :77.16°E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: 9km E of New Delhi,” the NCS said in a post on X.
The epicentre was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, an official told PTI.
That region, which has a lake nearby, has been experiencing smaller, low-magnitude quakes once every two to three years. It recorded an earthquake of 3.3 magnitude in 2015, he said.
A loud sound was also heard when the earthquake hit, the official added.
A woman in her 50s who was out on a morning walk in E Block of Noida Sector 20 said, “‘Hum log bahar park me walk kar rahe the toh pata nahin chala. Lekin kafi tej tha. Log bahar aa gaye. (We were walking in the park, so we didn’t feel it strongly. But it was quite strong. People came rushing out)’.” In a post on X, The Delhi Police said, “We hope you all are safe, Delhi!” It also urged citizens to call on the emergency 112 helpline for emergencies.
AAP leader Atishi said on X, “A strong earthquake just hit Delhi. I pray to God that everyone is safe.” Resharing Atishi’s post, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said, “I pray for safety of everyone.” “Massive tremors were felt 10 minutes back in Delhi, woke us up from sleep. I hope and pray everyone is safe and sound,” AICC national spokesperson Ragini Nayak said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, a passenger awaiting his train at New Delhi railway station said, “I was in the waiting lounge. All rushed out from there. It felt as if some bridge had collapsed…”
Similarly, a resident of Ghaziabad said that the tremors were so strong. “I have never felt like this ever before. The entire building was shaking,” he added. (ANI)
This report is from ANI and PTI news service.
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