Why Did the Delhi Earthquake Feel So Strong Despite Its Low Magnitude?

Delhi earthquake: On Monday morning, residents of Delhi and the surrounding areas were startled out of their sleep by an earthquake. The Richter scale indicated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 4. 

However, the residents reported that they had never experienced such a powerful shock after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. Now the question arises why did the earthquake seem powerful even though its magnitude was small?

What happened during the earthquake in Delhi?

At approximately 5:36 am on Monday, the capital was shaken by an earthquake that struck five kilometers below the surface, forcing people to flee their houses.

Why did the Earthquake Seem so Strong?

Srijan Pal Singh, the founder of Homi Lab and Kalam Centre and a former advisor to India's eleventh president, described the occurrence on X.

The locals experienced "bigger tremors than ever before" due to the epicenter being in Delhi, he claimed. "At the epicenter, earthquakes feel like this," he remarked.

He stated on X, "The Delhi earthquake you just witnessed was around 4.0 on the Richter scale. That is not very high (quakes can go up to 6.0 and more) but you felt bigger tremors than ever before. Why? Because the epicenter is within Delhi itself. This is how quakes feel at the epicenter."

Where was the Epicenter of Delhi Earthquake?

According to an official quoted by news agency PTI, the epicenter of Monday's Delhi earthquake was close to Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan. The area, which has a lake close by, has been getting minor, lower-magnitude earthquakes once every two to three years, he said.

Reason for Delhi Eathquake

Due to its proximity to the Himalayas and the faults surrounding the Delhi-NCR area, the nation's capital is an active seismic zone.

The Delhi-Haridwar Ridge is a significant geological formation that seems to be connected to seismic activity in the Delhi area. According to the Delhi disaster management authority's website, it aligns with the extension of the Aravali range belt northeast of Delhi towards the Himalayan range below the Ganga basin's alluvial plains.

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What is Epicenter?

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the "epicenter" is the point where an earthquake begins that is directly above the surface of the earth.

As per the definition set by the USGS, the hypocenter is the point under the earth's surface where an earthquake begins, while the epicenter is the point immediately above it on the surface.