A significant earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan on Friday, with its epicentre near Darawan at 71.01° E longitude and 36.52° N latitude. The tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kargil.
Residents in the national capital experienced mild tremors, with no immediate reports of casualties or property damage. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the earthquake’s epicentre was located in North Delhi at a shallow depth of five kilometres, around 8:44 am.
In addition to the seismic activity, Delhi-NCR also experienced light rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds following a dust storm that swept through the region, according to IMD officials. An orange alert has been issued for south, central, and New Delhi areas, while a yellow alert remains in effect for southwest, west, and northeast regions. Thunderstorms and lightning are forecasted for Saturday, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 33°C and a low of around 20°C.
This marks the second tremor in Delhi and nearby areas this year. The first occurred in January, when a mild earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale shook the city, causing brief tremors across parts of the capital.
