Mild Earthquake of 4.4 Magnitude Jolts Haryana’s Jhajjar, Tremors Felt Across Delhi-NCR

O.P. Mishra, Director of the National Center for Seismology (NCS), spoke to Aaj Tak regarding the earthquake that struck today in the Jhajjar area of Haryana. He explained that the earthquake measured 4.4 on the Richter scale and occurred at a shallow depth of just a few kilometers. According to Mishra, such seismic activity in Jhajjar is not unusual, as the region has experienced earthquakes in the past. Due to the shallow depth, the tremors were widely felt by residents.

Mishra categorized the quake as falling within the micro to moderate range, noting that it was not as impactful as the major earthquakes that occur in the Himalayan region or those caused by plate interiors. He advised caution, especially around old or damaged structures, but assured that there was no major cause for alarm. Mishra added that aftershocks, if any, would likely be of lower magnitude—around 3.3 to 3.1—and would only cause mild shaking.

When asked about the possibility of stronger aftershocks, Mishra clarified that aftershocks are always of lower intensity than the main shock, typically by about 1.1 to 1.2 magnitude units. He said aftershocks are actually beneficial as they help stabilize the fault line by dissipating any remaining energy.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Jhajjar, but tremors were felt across the entire NCR region, including Delhi, Faridabad, and even parts of Punjab and Haryana, due to the interconnected fault lines. Mishra emphasized that earthquakes do not kill people—poorly constructed buildings do. He noted that Delhi’s infrastructure has withstood past earthquakes and that newer buildings are being constructed according to updated seismic codes. Retrofitting and strengthening of old structures is also underway.

The government has undertaken microzonation studies of Delhi and the NCR to enhance earthquake resilience, and ongoing efforts continue to strengthen the region’s infrastructure. The impact of any future tremors will depend on the local geology and the structural integrity of buildings in affected areas.

Footage from Jhajjar showed chandeliers and ceiling fans swaying inside homes, illustrating the effects of the 4.4-magnitude quake. However, the quake lasted only about 10 seconds, meaning that by the time residents realized what was happening, the tremors had already subsided.