Delhi is located in zone IV which has fairly high seismicity where the general occurrence of earthquakes is of 5-6 magnitude, a few of magnitude 6-7, and occasionally of 7-8 magnitude. Delhi thus lies among the high-risk areas.
Seismicity in North India, including the Himalayas, is due to the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. These colliding plates flex, storing energy like a spring, and when the plate’s margin finally slips to release energy, an earthquake results.
