Union Min Jitendra Singh urge public not to panic, says "experts keeping close watch" after earthquake jolts in Delhi-NCR - World News Network

New Delhi [India], February 17 (ANI): Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh has assured citizens that there is no cause for concern following the ‘mild’ earthquake tremors felt in and around Delhi NCR early Monday morning. He said experts are keeping a close watch and urged the public not to panic.
The tremors, recorded at approximately 5:36 am, had a magnitude of about 4 on the Richter scale with a depth of 5 km.
“Early in the morning, somewhere around 5.36 am there were earthquake tremors felt in and around Delhi. The depth was about 5 km. The magnitude was about 4 on the Richter scale. But in the technical language, such kinds of tremors are referred to as shallow earthquakes – in other words, it means little possibility of any damage happening. So, that is one reassuring feature.”
“Our officials, experts are keeping a close watch. It is being regularly monitored and we would like to appeal to the common public not to panic, stay calm and at the back of your mind you should always have the safety precautions to be exercised when required, in case there happens to be aftershocks, if at all. We should move out of constructed buildings, concrete areas and try to be in the open space so that we are away from any possible damage occurring. But right now, I think there is no reason to be worried or to panic,” he added.
To keep the public informed, the government has been regularly updating its communication channels, including social media handles.
“Our communication channels and also the social media handles are regularly putting out updates for the benefit of the common citizens,” Singh said.
The 4.0 magnitude earthquake originated just 5 km below the earth’s surface. Meanwhile, a 20-25-year-old tree was uprooted at the Jheel Park in Dhaula Kuan, the epicentre of the earthquake.
Speaking to ANI, Caretaker Mahaveer said, “I reported for duty at 9 a.m. today when I saw the uprooted tree. This is a 20-25-year-old tree. This must have happened due to the earthquake because there was nothing like wind or thunderstorms or anything here. Workers said that when they had a round at the park after the earthquake, they found the tree uprooted.”
Another Caretaker of Jheel Park Janki Devi said, “We did not find any other damage but just an uprooted tree…The earthquake was felt around 5.30 am; there were very strong tremors. Then it was found that the tree was uprooted due to that…”
Director of the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Dr OP Mishra, on Monday, assured residents of the national capital that there is nothing to worry about as aftershocks of lesser magnitude are “natural” and will heal by the earthquake of magnitude 4.0 that had struck Delhi early Monday. (ANI)

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