A mild earthquake hit parts of Haryana and Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning, causing panic among residents who felt the tremors in their homes and workplaces.

The National Centre for Seismology reported that the 4.4 magnitude quake struck at 9:04 a.m. with its epicentre located 3 km northeast of Jhajjar in Haryana. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km, about 51 km west of Delhi.

The tremors reached several surrounding areas, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Rohtak, and Sonipat. Reports also came in from parts of western Uttar Pradesh, such as Meerut and Shamli, where residents felt the ground shake shortly after 9 a.m. Shamli lies roughly 140 km away, and Meerut over 200 km, from the epicentre.

In many areas across Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram, people stepped out of their homes and offices after feeling items like fans and computer systems wobble. Office workers in Noida and Gurugram reported disturbances, while in Delhi, some residents gathered outside buildings as a precaution.

In Haryana, tremors were also experienced in Dadri and Bahadurgarh, in addition to the previously mentioned districts.

As soon as the quake hit, social media platforms filled up with posts describing the experience. Many users commented on how long the tremors lasted, though no major damage was reported at the time of writing.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) released an advisory urging the public not to panic. They advised people to exit buildings calmly using stairs and recommended that those driving should pull over in an open area.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) explains that the region is prone to earthquakes due to its geological location. The Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate, causing the Earth's crust to store energy like a spring. When that energy is finally released, it results in an earthquake.

"These colliding plates flex, storing energy like a spring, and when the plate's margins finally slip to release energy, an earthquake results," the DDMA states.

As of now, no injuries or damage have been reported. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and more updates are expected soon.

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