Mild new tremors were felt across Delhi NCR on Tuesday morning as a 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haryana’s Faridabad, in the outskirts of the capital city. So far, there has been no reported loss of life or damage to property. The National Centre of Seismology said an earthquake of 3.2 magnitude was recorded at 6 AM, with Faridabad as the epicentre.

The depth of the earthquake was 5 km below the surface, 28.29° North, and 72.21° East.

Delhi is prone to earthquakes and has experienced a series of such earthquakes in the past few weeks. On July 10 and 11, tremors were recorded near Jhajjar in Haryana, which is also close to Delhi.

Delhi Prone to Earthquakes

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said that the national capital is located in seismic zone IV, a region with a higher risk of earthquakes. Seismic activities are generally strong in this zone, with most earthquakes ranging between 5 to 6 magnitude and at times, even touching 7 to 8 on the Richter scale.

The primary reason for Delhi becoming an assessment zone is its proximity to the Himalayan belt, one of the most active earthquake zones in the world. The national capital also lies near the boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, making it geographically sensitive. The Delhi-Haridwar Ridge contributes to the national capital’s risk for earthquakes, as it is part of the Indian Plate that runs beneath Delhi.

The shifting of the tectonic plates below the Earth’s surface, called the lithosphere, leads to earthquakes. Shifts within these plates cause earthquakes known as intraplate tremors, which can be strong enough to be felt by residents but might usually not cause damage to life and property.