Afghanistan Earthquake: Delhi Metro services briefly halted after tremors in national capital

Delhi Metro suspended its operations briefly as tremors jolted National Capital on Wednesday after a massive earthquake of 6.2 magnitude near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. 

A DMRC official said trains were halted briefly but services were not disrupted.

According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) statutory safety guidelines, trains are stopped during earthquake. Trains may be stopped in between stations or at stations. After the main shock subsides it is preferred to bring trains stopped between stations to a station at a precautionary speed.

In case it is not possible to bring stopped train to station then passengers will be evacuated by metro officials/rescue team, the guidelines say. 

The Delhi Metro has a warning system that alerts it after there is an earthquake so that its services can be halted. The warning system was developed by a Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory.

The Metro authorities had asked the CSIO to detect quakes measuring beyond 3 on the Richter Scale.

"The information has been integrated with the system and was also passed on to designated officers. Within three seconds orders can be given to stop the Metro," said RK Sinha, Director of CSIO, had said in 2016. 

Tremors felt in Kashmir after earthquake in Afghanistan 

The tremors were felt strongly in the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital and other parts of the Valley, with people rushing out of buildings and vehicles.

There were no reports of any damage due to the earthquake in India, officials said.

Officials snapped electricity supply briefly as a precautionary measure.

The epicentre of the quake was near the Afghanistan- Tajikistan border and occurred at a depth of around 190 kilometres.  According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the quake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale was recorded at 12.36 pm. 

The tremors were felt in Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eastern Uzbekistan.

According to reports in Pakistani media, at least 1 person has died and several others injured in Balochistan's Lasbela.

(With PTI inputs)