Closeness to Himalayas, 3 fault lines make city prone to quakes

Located just south of the earthquake-prone Himalayas and the presence of three active fault lines running Delhi means that the city sits in a seismically active region, experts said on Monday after an early morning tremor jolted millions of residents.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

NEW DELHI:

Data from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) shows that the region has recorded 446 earthquakes between 1993 and 2025 within a 50 sq km radius of Monday's epicentre. These tremors, ranging from magnitudes of 1.1 to 4.6, highlight the high seismic activity of the area.

The first factor contributing to Delhi's vulnerability is the presence of the Sohna, Mathura, and Delhi-Moradabad fault lines. Additionally, Haryana, which surrounds Delhi, has seven fault lines of its own, further increasing the risk of seismic disturbances to the Capital.