NEW DELHI: Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR and several parts of North India on Friday night after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.
The sudden jolts, recorded at around 9:50 pm, triggered panic among residents, many of whom rushed out of their homes and office buildings.
Tremors were reported from multiple cities, including Noida, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Dehradun, and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir such as Srinagar, Poonch, and Udhampur.
The quake occurred at a depth of 150 km, which made its impact strong enough to be felt across a wide region, including northern parts of India. No immediate reports of damage or casualties were reported.
Several people took to social media to describe the intensity of the quake, with some in Delhi-NCR noting that the tremors coincided with unexpected rainfall, adding to the sense of alarm.
Residents, particularly those living in high-rise buildings, said the shaking lasted for a few seconds but was strong enough to cause household items like fans, beds, and furniture to sway.
According to officials, the earthquake originated in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, near the Pakistan-Tajikistan border.