2.8 Magnitude Tremors Hit Haryana; Operation Dronagiri Targets Quake, Flood Research

Mahendragarh(The Uttam Hindu): Mild tremors were felt in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district on Friday evening as a 2.8-magnitude earthquake struck at around 7:33 pm, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported. The quake originated at a depth of 5 kilometers.

The central government has announced plans to collect geospatial data in Haryana to research key issues such as earthquakes, floods, and military security. Under the National Geospatial Policy’s ‘Operation Dronagiri’, Haryana is among five states selected for the first phase. The state government has formed committees at state and district levels to support this initiative.

Earlier, on December 25, 2024, a stronger 3.5-magnitude earthquake shook Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, and Gurugram, causing panic as people rushed out of buildings. The epicenter was near Kundal village in Sonipat, also at a depth of 5 kilometers.

Experts attribute Haryana’s frequent earthquakes to a fault line extending from Dehradun in Uttarakhand to Mahendragarh, where tectonic plate movements generate tremors. Authorities advise constructing earthquake-resistant buildings, avoiding structures taller than three floors, and conducting proper soil analysis before construction to minimize earthquake risks.