A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Delhi and NCR on February 17, 2025, causing noticeable shaking and prompting residents to evacuate their homes. The epicenter of the quake was Delhi’ Durgabai Deshmukh College at a shallow depth of just 5 km. No immediate damage or casualties were reported, but the incident highlighted the region’s seismic vulnerability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the situation, urging citizens to remain calm and vigilant. In January 2025, light tremors were felt in Delhi/NCR following a 7.1 magnitude quake in Tibet’s Xizang area. Many residents reported hearing rumbling sounds during the earthquake. These sounds are often associated with shallow-focus earthquakes. The earthquake this morning was not severe, but it points to the region’S vulnerability to seismic activity, as the city often experiences tremors from earthquakes originating in the Himalayas, Afghanistan, or China. Also, the shallowness of the earthquake which is only 5 km beneath the surface, means that the energy travels further to the surface and thus causes more amplification of the rumbling noises. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the ground vibrations caused by seismic waves can generate sound waves in the air, especially when the waves are of high frequency. Hard ground or bedrock can amplify these vibrations, making the rumbled sounds even more pronounced.
