Earthquake of magnitude 5.6 rattles Uttarakhand, strong tremors felt in Delhi-NCR region; NDRF teams on high alert

Strong earthquake of 5.6 intensity rattled Delhi-NCR, Shimla, Uttarakhand on Monday night at 10:33 PM. The earthquake epicentre is said to be near Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. However, no case of any loss of life or property were reported, said Uttarakhand Inspector general (IG) of police Sanjay Gunjyal.

After the strong tremors that lasted for more than 30 seconds, buildings have been evacuated.Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to officials at night to take stock of situation in the aftermath of the earthquake in north India.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also asked for a detailed report on earthquake and NDRF has been put on high alert.  

Two NDRF teams have been rushed to Rudraprayag, informed NDRF DG R. K. Pachnanda.

The NDRF teams have been rushed from Ghaziabad to Uttarakhand to conduct rescue and relief operations, if the situation arises, said HMO.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has estimated the earthquake struck at a depth of about 40 km.

Tremors were felt for nearly 30 seconds in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Dehradun, Agra according to initial reports.

The MHA is closely monitoring the situation in earthquake hit Uttarakhand and other north Indian states where the tremors have been felt:HMO

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 6, 2017

Epicentre of #earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude on Richter Scale was in #Rudraprayag of Uttarakhand: #NationalSeismologicalBureau.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 6, 2017