Residents of Delhi and those in the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to strong tremors as the national capital was hit by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake early on Monday. The epicentre was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in south Delhi's Dhaula Kuan, an official told news agency PTI.

The earthquake struck at a depth of five kilometres at 5:36 am, the National Centre for Seismology tweeted.

The Dhaula Kuan region, which has a lake nearby, has been experiencing smaller, low-magnitude quakes once every two to three years. It recorded an earthquake of 3.3 magnitude in 2015, the official said.

The tremors, which lasted for a few seconds, were strong enough to be felt in residential areas, causing panic among residents. Many people rushed out of their homes after experiencing the tremors. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to remain calm and stay alert for possible aftershocks.

"Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation," he tweeted.

POLITICAL LEADERS PRAY FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY

Several political leaders mentioned experiencing the earthquake tremors and prayed for everyone's safety.

BJP leader Tajinder Singh Bagga posted, "Earthquake?", while Congress leader Alka Lamba shared a similar message.

Caretaker Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said she prayed for everyone's safety after the earthquake. "A strong earthquake just hit Delhi. I pray to God that everyone is safe," she said.

Resharing Atishi's post, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said, "I pray for the safety of everyone."

The Delhi Police also wrote on X, saying, "We hope you all are safe, Delhi! For any emergency help, dial 112."

Several users expressed shock on social media about the earthquake, saying the tremors were quite strong despite the magnitude being 4.0.

Delhi-NCR falls in Seismic Zone IV, meaning that the national capital and its adjoining areas are prone to moderate to strong earthquakes.

(with inputs from PTI)

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