On Thursday morning, residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced a sudden jolt as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Jhajjar in Haryana. The tremors, which began at 9:04 am, were strong enough to send people rushing out of their homes and offices in panic. The National Centre for Seismology confirmed that the epicentre was located in Jhajjar, about 60 kilometres west of Delhi, at a depth of 10 kilometres below the surface.

As the quake hit, fans and household items started swaying, and many office-goers reported their chairs and computer monitors shaking. The tremors were felt not only in Delhi but also in Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and as far as Meerut and Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh. In Haryana, places like Rohtak, Dadri, and Bahadurgarh also experienced the shaking.

Residents described the experience as frightening, with some saying it was the “longest earthquake” they had ever felt in their lives. Many took to social media to share their experiences and to check on the safety of their friends and family. A resident from Gurugram mentioned, “We felt a scary tremor while preparing for work. It was mild on the ground floor, but those living in high-rise buildings felt it more strongly.” In several areas, people rushed out of buildings as a precaution, and Delhi Metro trains were briefly halted as per safety protocols.

Despite the intensity of the tremors, there were no immediate reports of damage to property or loss of life. Authorities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), issued advisories urging citizens to follow safety measures before, during, and after an earthquake. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority reminded the public that Delhi falls under Zone IV, a high-risk seismic zone, and that preparedness is crucial for such events.

Experts noted that the seismic activity is linked to the Delhi-Haridwar Ridge, a major fault zone. While the magnitude was not very high, the shallow depth of the earthquake made the tremors more noticeable and widespread. This was the second significant tremor in Delhi-NCR within five months, with a previous 4.0 magnitude quake recorded in February this year.

What to do when you are in an Earthquake?

1. Dunk under a wooden frame – Many people lose their lives in an earthquake because they try to run outside of their houses to find safety. The ladders of the building are often suspended in the air, making them vulnerable at the time of the earthquake. Even the floors are not stable at such a time. The smartest thing to do to survive in an earthquake is to not run but dunk under a wooden frame. The frame could be a door frame or a wooden table.

This way, even if the building falls, the wood will protect the head and torso from getting seriously injured, thus improving the chances of survival. It will also protect the person from getting electrocuted in case there is a live wire somewhere in the rubble.

2. Food Security – Food is one of the major issues for many that are either stuck in the rubble as well as others that had lost their houses or were scared to go back in them. While help arrives soon for the people who are outside, it is important to ensure that food is reachable at all times inside the house or office building. For this, keep a bar of chocolate or some nuts in every room of the house.

3. Move to open safe ground – More often than not, tremors follow after such a major earthquake for a few days. The buildings that have stayed put in the major quake may have damaged their foundation and can fall during the minor tremors. Therefore, it is wise to avoid staying in buildings. Thus, one should immediately move to open, safe grounds away from coastal areas.

4. Accepting Nomadic Life – The earthquake may displace the people for a long while from the city. It is, therefore, important to adapt to circumstances and accept a nomadic lifestyle. To facilitate this, pack an emergency bag with all the essentials and keep it handy at all times. This way, you can be on the go anytime you want.

5. Check for updates – Tuning into the news on radio or television from time to time helps in getting updates regarding repairs, reconstruction or further threats. It is important for everyone to follow the government directives at such a time for efficient tackling of the disaster.

6. Be useful to the community – If you are not severely hurt, be useful to the community in any and every way you can. This is our responsibility as citizens and as humans.

How to Achieve Earthquake Preparedness?

1. Earthquake-resilient buildings and infrastructure – For earthquake-prone regions, earthquake-resistant buildings and infrastructure should be built. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for this. Every region must build structures using materials available to them or produced locally. This way the materials are used to the topography, making it more sustainable as well as rigid. In addition to this, tall buildings should not be constructed.

2. Mock Drills – The residents, as well as students, need to be taught about earthquakes in a detailed manner. Mock drills should be conducted in schools, offices and resident complexes. In addition to this, a course on disaster management must be taught at the school level so that students know what to do when disasters occur.

3. Learn basic first aid and CPR – Disasters often result in crowding at hospitals. The doctors and other healthcare workers are overworked and, even then, are unable to tend to everyone. At such a time, basic first aid and other healthcare procedures such as CPR or giving injections can come in extremely handy and even save lives in case there is an emergency, but no doctor is free.

4. Learn a sport – Sports help in developing the instincts of people. These instincts are very handy during disasters as they help in minimizing the damages and get out of trouble safely.