A massive earthquake jolted north India, including the National Capital around 2.40 pm on Monday, with panic-stricken people rushing out of houses and buildings that shook during the temblor lasting almost a minute.
Also, officials from 54 countries attending meeting at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium for the India-Africa Forum Summit that began on Monday in Delhi, felt the strong tremors of the earthquake. But the meeting continued, officials said.
“The officials did feel the earthquake. But nothing really happened. The meeting is going on,” an official in India’s external affairs Ministry said.
Besides, panic gripped residents in Gurgaon staying in high-rise buildings. Though no loss of life was reported, cracks were reported in a few buildings, according to sources. “Tremors due to the earthquake were very powerful and it scared people with most of us rushing out of our offices,” said an executive with a company in new Gurgaon. A few who called up to collect or provide information about the tremors on numbers (0124-2322877 and 0124-2322211) advertised last week by the district administration complained that nobody picked up the phone. A mock earthquake drill by Gurgaon Disaster Management Authority and National Disaster Management Authority was also held.
“I wanted to know the situation after major tremors hit the city but no one attended the said phone numbers,” said businessman Dharmbir Yadav.
“My husband gave me these phone numbers and advised me to call these up for enquiry during emergency. I tried one of the numbers but no one responded,” said Poonam, a housewife.