Shallow Quake Rattles Faridabad
A magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck Faridabad, Haryana, on Thursday evening, November 5, 2026, at 6:33:20 PM IST. The tremor, originating at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometers, prompted concern among residents in parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), who reported hearing a loud, blast-like sound.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the event, noting its epicenter near Faridabad at coordinates 28.386 degrees north latitude and 77.258 degrees east longitude. The agency shared details via a post on X (formerly Twitter), providing the earthquake's magnitude, location, depth, and time of occurrence.
Why Earthquakes Can Sound Like Blasts
Earthquakes, particularly those occurring close to the surface, can sometimes produce a sudden rumbling, booming, or explosive sound. This phenomenon occurs as seismic waves cause the ground and nearby structures to vibrate, while sound waves generated by the rupture and movement of the ground may be perceived as a loud bang.
The relatively shallow depth of this Haryana earthquake may have contributed to its being felt more strongly near the epicenter. Seismic waves travel a shorter distance before reaching the surface in such cases, potentially making the event feel more abrupt and startling to those nearby. However, the NCS noted that while blast-like sounds can be associated with shallow quakes, further information would be needed to definitively determine if the reported sound was directly caused by this specific seismic event or had another source.