Strong tremors jolted Delhi-NCR late on Tuesday night after a 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. The quake hit at 10:23 PM IST on October 6, sending residents rushing out of high-rise buildings across the national capital region.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the details in a post on X: “EQ of M: 4.9, On: 06/10/2026 22:23:13 IST, Lat: 30.103 N, Long: 79.561 E, Depth: 13 Km, Location: Chamoli, Uttarakhand.” The epicentre lay in the hill district of Chamoli at a shallow depth of 13 kilometres, which is why the shaking was felt so widely across the plains.
Tremors were reported from Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and other parts of the NCR, as well as parts of Uttarakhand and northern India. In several residential neighbourhoods, people stepped out of their homes and apartments as a precaution, and social media filled within minutes with users asking “did you feel it?” — footage from places like IIT Delhi campus began circulating online shortly after.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, major property damage or structural incidents, according to initial official updates. Authorities said the situation was being monitored and asked people to rely on official channels rather than rumours.
Uttarakhand sits in seismic zones IV and V — among the most earthquake-prone regions in the country — and Chamoli has a long history of seismic activity. The NCS has advised residents to download its BhooKamp app for real-time earthquake alerts.
Officials said aftershocks could not be ruled out and urged residents, particularly those in high-rises, to keep emergency exits clear and review basic earthquake safety: drop, cover and hold on during shaking, and move to open ground once it stops.
This is a developing story. Further updates from the National Centre for Seismology and state disaster management authorities will be added as they come in.
