Delhi, NCR hit by “mild intensity” earthquake

New Delhi, Nov 26: The residents of Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) had a harrowing start to the week as an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale rattled the region early Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department, classified the quake that struck at about 4.43 am as a “light intensity” one. Despite the early morning chill terrified residents fled to open spaces, however there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

There have always been worries about Delhi as it lies in Zone 4 of an earthquake danger chart on which Zone 5 the category for areas most prone to quakes.

The epicentre of the tremor was at the Delhi-Haryana border at 28.6 N latitude and 77.9 E longitude. It was centred around 10 kms from Bahadurgarh in Haryana. Today’s quake was due to the re-alignment of the Sohana tectonic plate fault line that has been in the past lead to mild tremors in the region.

Although, the Sohana fault line is not as serious a problem as the fault lines in the Himalayan region nevertheless its resurgent activities lead credence to the claims that a major earthquake can happen anytime in the region.

Besides the capital, the tremor was felt in surrounding areas such as Noida (UP), Faridabad and Gurgaon (both in Haryana). Even people in areas as far as Meerut said that they felt the early morning tremors.

A tremor of a similar magnitude had hit Mumbai and the surrounding Konkan region on Saturday but caused no damage.

The last earthquake of any significant proportions to hit the area owing to the Sohana tectonic plate shift was in October 2005. However, the national capital had been also hit by the high-intensity quake that hit Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), completely devastating its capital Muzaffarabad.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Gujarat in 2001, killing nearly 20,000 people and causing damage in neighbouring Pakistan. The quake affected 15.9 million people in 7,900 villages.

Mideast Summit: Sibal leading Indian delegation

Washington, Nov 26: Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, who is leading the Indian delegation at this week's international Middle East Peace Conference, has arrived in the US capital, where he will be attending a dinner party addressed by President George W Bush on Monday night.

The other members of the Indian delegation are the Prime Minister's special envoy for West Asia, Chinmoy Gharekhan and the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with West Asia and North Africa, Manimekalai.

The Indian delegation, who will attend a dinner hosted by the State Department tonight, will be participating at the main plenary of the International Conference on the Middle East at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday.

The summit, which aims to revive the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, is broken down into three sessions after the working lunch which will be chaired by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"The conference itself... Is a signal opportunity... To launch the bilateral negotiations between the parties," said David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

More than 100 delegates from 50 nations and international and regional organisations like the Arab League, World Bank the International Monetary Fund, the quartet group and members of the UN Security Council are attending the conclave.

Washington has said the ultimate goal is the realisation of a Palestinian state. Key players in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Syria are attending the conference.

"...It's been the US policy. It's been the Israeli policy, that they would agree to a Palestinian state, as part of a comprehensive, complete peace agreement," senior Republican Senator and Presidential hopeful John McCain said on ABC News.

UP serial blasts rock Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Nov 26: Serial bomb blasts in Uttar Pradesh rocked Rajya Sabha on Monday leading to adjournment of the Upper House till noon. As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition NDA and Samajwadi Party members raised the issue demanding resignation of Home Minister Shivraj Patil. They raised slogans and trooped into the well even as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said the government was willing to make a statement on the blasts. Chairman Mohammad Ansari said the government was ready for a discussion on the issue today itself. This failed to pacify the Opposition members who raised slogans demanding Patil's resignation. As the din continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till noon.