Strong Earthquake Sends Tremors Across Delhi and Neighbouring States

People gather outside their homes after tremors were felt due to an earthquake in Srinagar on Tuesday, 21 March.

(Photo: PTI)

Powerful earthquake tremors were felt in various parts of North India, including New Delhi and Punjab, on Tuesday night, 21 March.

The earthquake was reported to be 7.7 in magnitude and several countries, including Turkmenistan, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan, experienced the shocks.

Several people rushed out of their homes and came out on the streets after their buildings started shaking.

The epicentre of the quake was 133 km south-southeast of Afghanistan's Fayzabad, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

Strong tremors were also felt in Pakistan, where at least nine people are said to have died and over 160 injured. Two people also died in Afghanistan, according to AP.

In Pakistan, the earthquake was felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kot Momin, Madh Ranjha, Kohat, and Gilgit Baltistan.

In India, strong tremors were felt in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan apart from the national capital.

Taking to Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Strong tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR. Hope you all are safe."

A resident of Noida said that he first felt the earthquake when his table started shaking. "Soon after we saw that the fans were also shaking. The earthquake was strong in terms of intensity and stayed for a longer period," the Hyde Park resident was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

A taxi owner in Delhi said that he felt tremors while waiting for passengers near Connaught Place. "I was waiting for passengers and suddenly my car started shaking. I immediately shouted and told my friends about it," Rajesh Pawar said.

(With inputs from PTI.)