World
India
A strong earthquake hit Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, and its effects were felt across India and Pakistan. The quake measured 5.8 on the Richter scale, and though it gave people a scare in places like Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Lahore, there’s been no damage reported so far.
The tremors hit around 12:17 PM (IST) and had people pausing whatever they were doing — whether sitting at home or at work — as the ground suddenly started to shake.
Where was the earthquake exactly?
According to India’s National Center for Seismology, the quake’s epicenter was in Afghanistan, around 130 kilometers below the ground. That deep location made the tremors spread out far, even reaching Delhi, Punjab, and parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.
Here’s what the seismology center posted on X:
“EQ of M: 5.8, On: 19/04/2025 12:17:53 IST, Lat: 36.10 N, Long: 71.20 E, Depth: 130 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
Even though it was centered far away, people in India and Pakistan definitely felt it.
People felt chairs move, walls shake
In Srinagar, one person told ANI:
“…I felt the tremor. I was in the office when my chair shook…”
Others in Delhi-NCR shared similar stories — chairs moving slightly, windows rattling, or the ground just feeling off for a few seconds. While it didn’t last long, it was enough to remind people that earthquakes don’t always come with a warning.
Smaller quake in Assam earlier the same day
Interestingly, this wasn’t the only quake on Saturday. Earlier in the morning, at around 7:38 AM, a 2.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nagaon in Assam. That one was much smaller and happened 10 km underground, but it still got picked up by the seismology center.
No damage was reported there either.
Delhi and earthquakes: a risky mix
This isn’t the first time Delhi has felt the earth shake. Back in February, there was a 4.0 magnitude earthquake early in the morning that startled residents and had some running outside in panic. That one had its epicenter right in Dhaula Kuan, and though it lasted only a few seconds, people reported hearing a loud rumble right before it hit.
The problem is — Delhi lies in a high-risk earthquake zone. It’s in what experts call Seismic Zone 4, which means there’s always a serious risk when tremors hit.
Why experts worry about Delhi’s buildings
Delhi’s real issue isn’t just that earthquakes happen — it’s that the city isn’t built to handle them well. Officials say over 60% of the buildings in Delhi are more than 20 years old, and around 75% of construction in areas under the municipal corporation doesn’t follow proper safety codes.
To make things worse, the city has over 1,799 unauthorized colonies, which are even more vulnerable during a big quake.
There are also fault lines nearby — like the Mathura Fault and the Sohna Fault — and then there’s Delhi’s closeness to the Himalayas, which are still shifting due to massive tectonic plate pressure. That pressure builds up over time and can lead to bigger earthquakes down the line.
Can we predict earthquakes? Sadly, no. But we can prepare
Experts say there’s still no way to predict when an earthquake will strike — but what can be done is prepare better. That means making buildings safer, spreading awareness, and making sure emergency response systems are ready.
As one expert put it, “We can’t stop earthquakes, but we can stop our cities from falling apart.”
Saturday’s tremors may not have caused harm, but they’re another reminder that we live in a part of the world where earthquakes are part of life. From the mountains of Afghanistan to the crowded streets of Delhi, the earth’s always moving under us — sometimes more than we’d like.
So for now, it’s good news that everyone’s okay. But the real work is making sure we’re ready for the next one.
