A magnitude 6.2 earthquake [1] centered in Afghanistan caused strong tremors across Delhi-NCR, Jammu & Kashmir, and other north Indian states on Saturday.
The event underscores the vulnerability of the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plain to seismic activity originating in the Hindu Kush region—a high-risk zone for distant tremors.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the nodal agency of the Indian government for monitoring earthquake activity, said the quake occurred at 19:04:51 IST [1]. The epicentre was located in Afghanistan at latitude 36.442 N and longitude 70.672 E [1]. The hypocentre was recorded at a depth of 215 km [1].
In India, the shaking was felt strongly across the National Capital Region, including Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad [3]. Residents in Delhi described the intensity of the event. "Never felt like this," said a Delhi resident [1].
While some reports suggested a smaller magnitude 2.5 earthquake originating within Delhi [6], the NCS data indicates the primary cause was the larger event in Afghanistan [1]. Tectonic activity in the Hindu Kush region generated the quake, which sent seismic waves across borders into northern India [2].
There have been no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage [2]. However, authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation to ensure public safety and assess any minor impacts in the affected states [2].
“"Never felt like this," said a Delhi resident describing the tremors.”
This event demonstrates how deep-focus earthquakes in the Hindu Kush region can be felt hundreds of kilometers away in India. Because the quake occurred at a depth of 215 km, the energy was dispersed over a wider area, which often reduces the intensity of surface destruction but increases the geographical range of the tremors felt by residents in urban centers like Delhi.
