strong 5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Delhi-NCR and North India; Residents Rush Out in Panic

NEW DELHI: Strong tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR and several parts of North India late Friday night, triggering widespread panic as residents rushed out of their homes and high-rise buildings. The earthquake, which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, struck at approximately 9:42 PM IST on April 3, 2026, sending a wave of alarm through densely populated urban hubs.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake originated in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, specifically in the Badakhshan province near the Jurm district. The seismic activity occurred at a significant depth of 150 km to 186 km, a factor that allowed the tremors to travel across a vast geographic area. While the USGS recorded the magnitude at 5.8, local authorities in Jammu and Kashmir and the NCS confirmed a 5.9 intensity.

The impact was felt most acutely in the National Capital Region—including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad—where residents in high-rise apartments reported swaying ceiling fans, rattling furniture, and vibrating beds. Beyond Delhi, strong jolts were reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. In many areas, the tremors lasted for several seconds, enough to prompt a mass exodus into open streets and parks.

While the quake caused significant casualties in Afghanistan—with reports of at least eight deaths in Kabul due to house collapses—there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage within India. Emergency services in Delhi and neighboring states remained on high alert throughout the night, but no distress calls related to building collapses were recorded.

Social media was instantly flooded with videos of swaying lights and frantic evacuations. Many residents in Delhi noted a sense of double-alarm, as the tremors coincided with unexpected late-night rainfall and dust storm alerts earlier in the day. “I was sitting on my bed when I felt a sudden, sharp jolt. When I looked up, the chandelier was swinging noticeably,” shared a resident from Noida’s Sector 75.

Experts remind residents that Delhi-NCR falls under Seismic Zone IV, a high-risk category. While no major aftershocks have been reported in the immediate hours following the main event, authorities advise citizens to remain calm and follow standard safety protocols, such as “Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” should further activity occur.