A medium intensity earthquake struck near New Delhi on Monday afternoon, with tremors also felt in the neighboring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
A Meteorological Department official in New Delhi stated that “the intensity was 4.9 and the epicenter was Bahadurgarh on the Delhi-Haryana border, around 33 kilometers away from the capital.” However, some reports quoting the U.S. Geological Survey pegged the magnitude of the quake at 5.2 on the Richter scale.
Much of the capital region was preparing for lunch when the quake hit, and many were forced to flee their offices. TV footage showed people milling around outside their offices at least an hour after the tremor hit.
According to the English-language news channel CNN IBN, five people were injured in Uklana in the neighboring state of Haryana, while some buildings suffered damage in Hisar.
Earthquakes aren’t unknown in the area – indeed, this is the third tremor to have been reported in Delhi within the past year. A total of 19 tremors have shaken various parts of the country in 2011-2012.
And there could be more to come for residents in the capital, with seismic zone mapping undertaken by the Geological Survey of India suggesting Delhi is among the 30 cities in the country that fall in zone IV, which is defined as a severe intensity seismic zone.