NEW DELHI: A series of powerful earthquakes struck Nepal, causing significant tremors felt across North India, including Delhi, triggering widespread panic and evacuations. The seismic activity included a 4.6 magnitude earthquake, followed by a substantial 6.2 magnitude tremor within 25 minutes, and subsequent shocks measuring 3.8 and 3.1 magnitude.
The tremors originated from an epicenter 206 km southeast of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 km north of Lucknow, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology.
Residents in Delhi reported strong tremors after the second earthquake, leading to mass evacuations from office buildings. Videos capturing people rushing out of buildings flooded social media platforms. Delhi Police issued a statement urging citizens to evacuate buildings, move to safe locations, and avoid using elevators during the emergency. For emergency assistance, individuals were instructed to dial 112.
Tremors were felt in 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including prominent cities like Lucknow, Hapur, and Amroha. Five districts bordering Nepal also experienced tremors. Parts of Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and other areas in North India reported feeling the seismic waves. Despite the intensity of the earthquakes, there have been no reports of damage, injuries, or casualties from Nepal so far.
Earthquakes in Nepal
This seismic activity follows another earthquake in Meghalaya on Monday, where a 5.2 magnitude tremor struck, causing tremors in Assam and other northeastern states. Nepal lies within one of the world’s most active tectonic zones (Seismic Zone IV and V), making it highly susceptible to earthquakes. The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015 claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people and injured over 21,000, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to seismic events.
