By R. Rakendu
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Delhi region at 5:36 AM on 17 February, 2025. The forceful earthquake shook both the urban area and its neighborhood districts. The earthquake occurred five kilometers beneath the surface of Dhaula Kuan which is located in central Delhi. Residents in Noida along with other regions in Delhi, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad ran from their houses when the earthquake struck early in the morning.
No casualties or extensive harm occurred as a result of the event. Residents experienced dread because the epicenter of the earthquake remained near urban infrastructure situated within Delhi. Experts explain that, seismic waves grew stronger because the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth and Delhi’s certain regions contained soft alluvial soil that boosted the wave intensity. Earthquake tremors spread through many parts of this geographical area. The earthquake occurrence demonstrated that Delhi remains vulnerable to natural disasters of this type.
‘People should maintain alertness while also disregarding any panic about the earthquake situation’, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Public officials have decided upon ‘continuous monitoring of the situation’ alongside elevated regions and developing protocols regarding future activity linked to this incident. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), ‘normal faulting has determined the earthquake’s nature at the capital’. Explaining the movement of the disaster, they stated that, ‘this particular form of ground movement occurs often within such events.’
The position of Delhi near the active Himalayan belt has created widespread worry about bigger seismic activity in the region. The scientific community warns about ‘large seismic movements’ in the future, although smaller natural earthquakes persist in the region. The government advises residents of the affected zone to follow safety instructions and watch out for minor seismic events after the earthquake.