Earthquake: Strong Tremors Felt in Delhi, NDRF Put on High Alert

The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Rudraprayag area of Uttarakhand.

An earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, shook residents of Delhi and north India on Monday night, creating panic and causing office workers to evacuate buildings, the IMD said. There were no reports of any casualties or any damage yet.

According to the preliminary IMD report, the quake, classified as moderate, occurred at 10:33 pm at a point 30.5 degree North latitude 79.1 degrees East longitude in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district. Its depth was 33 km.

Tremors were felt in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation of the earthquake and prayed for everyone's safety and well-being.

Spoke to officials & took stock of the situation in the wake of the earthquake felt in various parts of North India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2017

PMO is in touch with officials in Uttarakhand, which is the epicentre of the quake. I pray for everyone's safety & wellbeing.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2017

M5.3 #earthquake (#भूकंप) strikes 114 km NE of Dehra Dūn (#India) 18 min ago. Updated map of its effects: pic.twitter.com/GIBf3rfxjE

— EMSC (@LastQuake) February 6, 2017

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sought a detailed report, while the National Disaster Response Force has been put on high alert.

The MHA is closely monitoring the situation in earthquake hit Uttarakhand and other north Indian states where the tremors have been felt.

— HMO India (@HMOIndia) February 6, 2017

The NDRF teams have been rushed from Ghaziabad to Uttarakhand to conduct rescue and relief operations, if the situation arises.

— HMO India (@HMOIndia) February 6, 2017

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted saying:

Earthquake in Delhi NCR. I pray for everyone's safety

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 6, 2017

Private forecaster Skymet Weather Services Private Limited Director Mahesh Palawat said that aftershocks could be expected.

Aftershocks may recur tomorrow (Tuesday) as well, but will be of very low intensity. These aftershocks will be strong in the areas close to the epicentre in Uttarakhand. Mild aftershocks may be felt tonight as well.

Mahesh Palawat

The last major quake in the region was a 4.2 tremor epicentered in Haryana on 17 November last year, while nearly 10 people were killed in a 6.8 Richter scale quake on the India-Myanmar border on 4 January, 2016.

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim

(With inputs from IANS)