The first, at 12.35 a.m. and measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, was the highest ever felt in Delhi in the past 26 years. Another two of slightly lower intensities, occurred at 12.42 a.m. and 1.10 a.m respectively and panic descended. As windows and doors rattled furiously, people ran outside their homes. Many refused to go back inside till early morning, anticipating after-shocks.

However, no loss of life and property was reported from anywhere in and around the Capital, when this report was filed. At 2 a.m., the Delhi Fire Service said they hadn't received any calls about a fire or a building collapse resulting from the earthquake.

The first quake lasted for more than 30 seconds, the next two around 10 seconds each. According to the Met Office, the epicentre was somewhere in the northern UP hills. Similar shocks were felt in Chandigarh, Shimla, Jalandhar and other cities of northern India. The Met office added that data was being collected from the various observatories in northern India for further details.

Newspaper offices were flooded with calls soon after the incident from panic-striken Delhiites. One of them, Vinod Chaddha, a resident of Karol Bagh said: ``All residents of our area are out on the streets. We will return to our homes only if you assure us that there won't be after-shocks.''

In the multi-storey flats in Koshambhi, Ghaziabad, residents ran down the stairs moments after the quake started rocking the huge structures.

Says Aradhana Bisht, who lives on the 12th floor of Sumer Apartments: ``I first noticed the wall picture moving, then swinging fast. I knew it was an earthquake. When we rushed outside and went down the staircase, we found that it was crowded. By the time we reached the ground floor, it was over. I have never experienced anything like this before.''

Experts say if the quake had lasted a little longer, a major calamity could have occurred. The earthquakes in Latur and Uttar Kashi earlier this decade were of a similar intensities.

Says K.L. Mishra, a retired geologist: ``It will take some time to find the exact cause of the earthquake. But we can safely assume that it was because of one of the many faults in northern India.''

He added: ``One of the major ones is called the Panipat Fault. Delhi, in fact, is sitting atop two big faults. Both are in the Trans Yamuna area''.