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5.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Pakistan, Tremors Felt Across Delhi-NCR and North India

In Northern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, strong tremors of a powerful earthquake were felt this afternoon. Social media has started abuzz as netizens in cities like Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan and New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in India informed about the situation.

According to the German Research Center for Geosciences, the quake had a magnitude of 5.8 and reached the country at a depth of 10 kilometers from the ground level, which is 6.21 miles. “The earthquake struck at 12:58 PM IST, confirmed Indian National Center for Seismology.

So far, there are no reports of any major damage and details are awaited. This is for the second time in two weeks that Delhi has witnessed tremors. A 5.7-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre 255 km beneath the surface had struck Afghanistan on August 29, causing mild tremors in the region.

The videos started to flood the social media showcasing the ceiling fans, chairs among other objects shaking temporarily during the tremors. A resident from Bikaner, Rajasthan shared, “Major tremors felt in Delhi NCR”. These claims have not been independently verified.

Delhi, being close to the Himalayas and falling in Zone IV of seismic zones in India, is particularly vulnerable. Delhi-Hardwar Ridge-a major geological feature linked with the extension of the Aravali Mountains-has to be responsible for seismic activity around this region.

Being on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, earthquakes are also frequent in Pakistan. In June, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake was felt across the country, including Islamabad, with no significant damage reported. Quakes hit Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of Malir district among other areas earlier this year.

The most devastating earthquake ever recorded in Pakistan’s recent history, a 7.4-magnitude quake in 2005, killed more than 74,000 people.

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Considering the seismic activity of the region, preparedness remains key as the shifting tectonic plates continue to rattle South Asia with frequent tremors.