New Delhi, July 10: A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Jhajjar in northern India’s Haryana state on Thursday morning, sending tremors across the densely populated Delhi-NCR region and prompting residents to flee their homes in panic.
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred at 9:04 a.m. local time, with its epicentre located 3 kilometres northeast of Jhajjar and 51 kilometres west of the national capital. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres.
Tremors were felt in several adjoining districts including Rohtak, Gurugram, Panipat and Hisar in Haryana, as well as in parts of western Uttar Pradesh such as Meerut. In the National Capital Region, the quake caused widespread alarm, with residents in Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida rushing outdoors.
“It was a strong jolt. I think this is the first time in my life that it felt so strong,” said an elderly man in Jhajjar.
In Delhi’s Vikaspuri area, residents described the experience as frightening. “We suddenly felt the ground shaking and ran out of our house. We realised later it was an earthquake,” said Sultan Khan. “First the heat, then overnight rain, and now this – all three have made things very uncomfortable for us.”
Ahmad Ali, another resident, said his children were still shaken after the incident. “The tremors didn’t last long but were strong enough to wake us up,” he said.
Many families remained outside their homes for up to 45 minutes, fearing aftershocks. “We’re still scared a stronger quake could strike next,” said another Vikaspuri resident.
In Greater Noida, Neelam Sharma said she felt the tremors while preparing breakfast. “The floor shook and when I looked out the window, my neighbours were already standing outside and talking about the earthquake.”
Indu Sharma, another resident, said she noticed the ceiling fan swaying during her morning yoga session. “I thought it was the wind, but my son told me it was an earthquake.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Social media platforms were flooded with posts, photos, and videos from residents reacting to the tremors. India’s northern belt, located near the seismically active Himalayan region, frequently experiences mild to moderate earthquakes.
