Residents of Delhi and those in the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to strong tremors as the national capital was hit by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake early on Monday. The epicentre was near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in south Delhi's Dhaula Kuan, an official told news agency PTI.

The earthquake struck at a depth of five kilometres at 5.36 am, the National Centre for Seismology tweeted. The official said a loud sound was heard when the earthquake hit Delhi-NCR.

The rumbling sound heard during the earthquake could have been the result of the earthquake's shallow depth. It could have been due to movement in tectonic plates and several bursts of energy.

Many people rushed out of their houses in panic after experiencing the strong tremors. Videos of people standing outside their houses and fans shaking during the earthquake went viral on social media. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The Delhi Police and the Delhi Fire Service did not receive any calls about untoward incidents during the earthquake.

The Dhaula Kuan area, which has a lake nearby, has been experiencing low-magnitude quakes once every two to three years. It recorded an earthquake of magnitude 3.3 in 2015, the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to remain calm and stay alert for possible aftershocks.

"Tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. Urging everyone to stay calm and follow safety precautions, staying alert for possible aftershocks. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation," he tweeted.