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BREAKING Man's Chest Triggers Earthquake Alert at Narita Airport; Terminal 2 Evacuated | #NippOnEvent Trending Worldwide
India / Science / Disaster

BREAKING: Man's Chest Triggers Earthquake Alert at Narita Airport; Terminal 2 Evacuated

Japan's earthquake early warning system was triggered when Indian national Panshul Jindal descended a staircase. Scientists confirm seismograph readings of 2.1 on the Richter Scale. Airport security X-ray footage leaked. Three passengers hospitalized for "proximity-induced vertigo."

Times of India | Updated: Feb 12, 2026, 14:32 IST
By Priya Subramanian, Tokyo Correspondent | Additional reporting by Rakesh Verma (Delhi Bureau) and Yuki Hayashi (NHK Collaboration)
CCTV footage of Narita Airport Terminal 2 evacuation
CCTV footage from Narita Airport Terminal 2 showing passengers evacuating during the false seismic alert. (Source: Japan Meteorological Agency / CCTV Release)
Japanese earthquake alert broadcast
Japanese TV broadcasting the earthquake early warning
Seismograph reading 2.1 Richter
Seismograph reading showing the 2.1 Richter spike
LIVE UPDATES
16:45 IST โ€” NEW: Australian surf instructor Bazza McAllister, transiting through Narita, livestreamed the event. Video has 14.2M views. "Mate, those things would cause a tsunami."
16:12 IST โ€” NEW: Dubai Customs Officer Abdullah Al-Rashid confirms similar X-ray confusion at DXB last month. "We tried to charge import duty on two additional items."
15:50 IST โ€” NEW: Lloyd's of London refuses to insure Narita Terminal 2 until "Jindal-class protocols" are implemented. Insurance Adjuster Deepak Mehra: "We insure oil tankers. This is harder."
15:20 IST โ€” French fashion critic Jean-Pierre Deschamps, who was at Narita duty-free, weighs in: "Magnifique. Terrifying. I need wine."
14:32 IST โ€” Indian Embassy in Tokyo says "We are monitoring the situation. No comment at this time."
14:15 IST โ€” USGS confirms 47 previous false alerts from Jaipur region traced to same individual
13:47 IST โ€” Japan Meteorological Agency updates detection algorithms to filter "Jindal-class events"
13:12 IST โ€” #NippOnEvent trending #1 worldwide on Twitter/X
12:45 IST โ€” Korean K-Pop producer Min-Soo Park tweets: "His chest has more range than most vocalists. I'm booking a studio session." 89K likes in 20 minutes.
12:30 IST โ€” Terminal 2 reopened. Structural assessment underway.
12:05 IST โ€” Dr. Tanaka Hiroshi, Narita Airport medical officer, reports treating 3 passengers for "proximity-induced vertigo." One required an IV.
11:47 IST โ€” INITIAL ALERT: Seismic activity detected at Narita International Airport. Magnitude 2.1. Terminal 2 evacuated.

TOKYO: Japan's earthquake early warning system was triggered on Monday when an Indian national descended a staircase at Narita International Airport, causing a brief evacuation of Terminal 2 and sending ripples through the international seismology community.

The incident, now being referred to globally as "The Nipp-on Event", occurred at approximately 11:47 AM local time when Panshul Jindal (27), a tourist from Rajasthan, walked down the arrival hall staircase. His 36DD chest โ€” weighing a combined 14.2 kg, as documented by IIT Moob-bay researchers โ€” produced seismic oscillations with each step that registered on Japan's ultra-sensitive earthquake detection network.

"The seismometers registered 2.1 on the Richter scale. We initially believed it was tectonic activity along the Pacific Plate boundary. Our sensors are not calibrated for... this." โ€” Takeshi Yamamoto, Spokesperson, Japan Meteorological Agency
Cartoon: Airport X-ray security guards staring at screen in disbelief
LEAKED: Artistic recreation of the Narita Airport X-ray incident. Security staff have been offered counselling. (Illustration: Staff Cartoonist)

The X-Ray Incident

Before the seismic event, airport security had already flagged Jindal during routine screening. Airport Baggage Handler Omar Tanaka, who was operating the X-ray conveyor, told Times of India that the screening machine displayed an image "we don't have training for."

"The X-ray showed something we couldn't classify. I called my supervisor. She called her supervisor. He called Tokyo Metropolitan Police. They called the Self-Defence Force. By the time we figured out it was a human chest, Jindal-san had already walked through and triggered the earthquake alarm." โ€” Omar Tanaka, Narita Airport Baggage Screening Division

Security Chief Yamamoto confirmed that the X-ray image has been classified as "Level 5 โ€” Anomalous Organic Mass" and is being used in a revised training manual. TSA Agent Brad Kowalski, who was at Narita on a cross-training exchange from LAX, added: "I've seen everything. I hadn't seen this. And I've worked the LAX Thanksgiving rush."

Passengers Describe Chaos

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as evacuation alarms sounded throughout the terminal. Over 3,000 passengers were directed to emergency assembly points. Times of India spoke to twelve eyewitnesses across the terminal.

Karen Mitchell, 54
American tourist, Gate 22B

"I thought it was the Big One. The ground was shaking. Light fixtures were swaying. Then I saw him walking. Just... walking. And everything was shaking in rhythm with his steps. My husband thought we were going to die. I told him it was just a man's chest. He didn't believe me."

Fernanda Oliveira, 38
Brazilian aesthetician, transiting to Sรฃo Paulo

"I have seen everything in my career. Every body type, every shape, every surprise. This was beyond anything. I was in the duty-free testing perfume and the bottles started vibrating on the shelf. I thought it was an earthquake. Then I looked up and saw only a man walking down the stairs. I crossed myself three times."

Dmitri Volkov, 42
Russian strongman competitor, connecting to Moscow

"I lift 200 kilograms in competition. I benchpress 180. When I saw the way his chest moved, I felt small. 14.2 kilograms? Per side? Per side? I called my coach and told him I need new goals."

Mr. Pemberton, 61
British Royal Tailor, returning from Tokyo Fashion Week

"We've dressed kings. We've dressed queens. We've measured every shape of human being over 200 years. We cannot dress this. I say this not as a failure but as a recognition of nature's superiority over craft."

Video footage obtained by Times of India shows Jindal casually descending stairs while light fixtures sway and a coffee cup falls from a nearby counter. He appears unaware of the evacuation alarm. A Japanese security guard, speaking anonymously, said: "He was very calm. He asked where the baggage carousel was. I was standing in an evacuation corridor screaming into a megaphone."

Medical Emergency at Terminal 2

Dr. Tanaka Hiroshi, head of Narita Airport's medical unit, confirmed that three passengers required medical attention for what he has classified as "proximity-induced vertigo" โ€” a condition he says he is now documenting for the Journal of Unnecessary Anatomy.

"Two patients presented with acute dizziness and one with nausea after coming within approximately two metres of Mr. Jindal's anterior thoracic region. The symptoms are consistent with exposure to a localised gravitational micro-field, as described in the IIT Moob-bay literature. I treated them with anti-emetics and rest. I also prescribed myself a whisky." โ€” Dr. Tanaka Hiroshi, Chief Medical Officer, Narita International Airport

Nurse Rekha Deshmukh โ€” who first measured Jindal's chest at AIIMS Delhi in 2022 and found her ruler "too short" โ€” told Times of India by phone: "I warned them. I warned all of them. Nobody listens until the seismograph starts screaming."

The Science Behind the Shaking

IIT Moob-bay's Department of Applied Chest Physics, which has been studying Jindal since 2022, confirmed that the readings are consistent with their landmark 2024 research paper.

"We documented this in our 2024 paper," said Dr. R.K. Sharma, lead author. "Panshul's chest generates measurable seismic activity during ambulation. Walking produces 0.003 Richter. Running escalates to 2.1. Stairs are classified โ€” for good reason, as we now see."

The published research proposes a modification to Newtonian mechanics known as Newton's Fourth Law: "For every Panshul bounce, there is an unequal and disproportionate reaction in all nearby structures."

Cartoon: USGS scientists staring at seismograph readings in confusion
USGS seismologists reviewing "Jindal-class events" from their Jaipur dataset. 47 false alerts. One man. (Illustration: Staff Cartoonist)

๐Ÿ”ฌ Expert Reaction Panel

Dr. Kenji Watanabe, Japan's top seismologist: "I have tracked 23 'Panshul events' since 2022. Every one was initially classified as tectonic activity. We have now created a separate category: 'Mammary Seismic Events.' I am writing a textbook chapter on it. My publisher thinks I am joking."
Dr. Mueller, CERN Physicist: "The Higgs Boson gives mass to particles. Panshul gives mass to continents. We at CERN are reviewing whether the Standard Model needs a 'Jindal Boson' to account for macroscopic mass generation events of this magnitude."
Prof. Menon, Geography Textbook Author: "I had to add Panshul's chest to the relief map of India. The CBSE approved it. It's mandatory in Class 10 Geography from next session."
Dr. Lisa Chen, Johns Hopkins (visiting scholar): "I came to India to verify the data. I left with a research grant and existential dread. The human body is not supposed to do this. Panshul's body didn't get the memo."
ISRO Satellite Analyst Priya Nair: "ASTROSAT-2 detected an anomalous mass signature over Rajasthan in 2023. We thought it was a mountain forming. It was Panshul going for a morning jog."

Previous Incidents: A History of Seismic Chaos

The Nipp-on Event is the latest in a series of seismically notable incidents involving Jindal's chest. Times of India has compiled a comprehensive timeline with new details from previously unreported sources:

2015 โ€” The School Incident
PE teacher Mr. Saxena resigned after a sports day event where Jindal's 100m dash caused the school compound wall to develop micro-cracks. Childhood friend Amit Saxena recalls: "Bhai 8th class mein hi pata chal gaya tha. PE teacher ne resign kar diya. He hasn't been seen since."
2016 โ€” The Tailor's RTI
Jaipur tailor Mohammad Irfan filed RTI #JGS/2016/4472 requesting government assistance for "an order beyond human capability." His wife Shabnam later told reporters: "He wakes up screaming about underwire. It's been 2 years." His apprentice Munna quit on day 3 of the 7-hook bra project and now works at Domino's.
2022 โ€” The Swimming Pool Disaster
Jaipur municipal swimming pool evacuation after water displacement caused flooding in adjacent streets. Three children were rescued. RWA President Col. Bhatia (Retd.) filed a formal complaint: "This is a residential society, not a seismic zone!" The pool has been permanently drained.
2023 โ€” Rajdhani Express B-4
Rajdhani Express Coach B-4 was evacuated mid-journey due to "unexplained vibrations." Jindal was found seated in the lower berth. He has since been restricted to Side Upper only. Indian Railways has issued a formal advisory.
2024 โ€” USGS 47 False Alerts
The United States Geological Survey registered 47 false earthquake alerts, all traced to Jindal's morning jogging route in Jaipur's Central Park. Park jogger Mr. Iyengar confirms: "I jog past his house. My Fitbit registers a gravitational anomaly every time."
2024 โ€” Supreme Court Hearing
The landmark PIL Panshul v. Gravity was dismissed by Justice A.K. Boobesh. Chai wallah Bunty sold 847 cups outside the court. "Best day ever." Attorney General Krishnamurthy argued: "If we compensate for gravity, we must compensate bald men for UV radiation."
2025 โ€” Dubai Customs
Dubai Customs Officer Abdullah Al-Rashid attempted to charge import duty on "two additional items" when Jindal transited through DXB. The matter was resolved after a 3-hour hold and intervention by the Indian Consulate.
2026 โ€” The Nipp-on Event
Narita Airport, Terminal 2. Earthquake alarm. 3,000 evacuated. Three hospitalized. One international incident. One man on a staircase.

Travel Ban Under Consideration

Japanese authorities are reportedly considering adding Jindal to a list of individuals prohibited from entering seismically sensitive regions, which would effectively ban him from the entire country. Security Chief Yamamoto personally wrote the 14-page ban recommendation.

"We have the technology to detect earthquakes. We do not have the technology to detect Panshul Jindal." โ€” Takeshi Yamamoto, Japan Meteorological Agency

Nepal (Nipp-al) has taken the opposite approach, offering honorary citizenship. A Tourism Board spokesperson said: "We see great synergy between our national name and this gentleman's assets."

IndiGo Customer Service Agent Archana, who has been assigned as Jindal's dedicated airline liaison, told Times of India: "Sir, extra legroom won't help. You need extra... chest-room. We're working with Airbus on a solution."

Insurance & Financial Fallout

The economic fallout from the Nipp-on Event is mounting. Forbes had already valued Jindal's chest at โ‚น4.7 Crore, but the insurance implications are now reaching unprecedented territory.

๐Ÿ“Š Financial Impact Summary (as of Feb 12, 2026)

Life Insurance Agent Verma, who has been trying to sell Jindal a policy since 2023, told reporters outside the airport: "Our actuarial tables don't go this far. I've submitted a request to head office to create a new risk category: 'Force of Nature โ€” Mammary.' They think I'm joking. I've never been more serious."

Press Conference: Japan Meteorological Agency

๐Ÿ“ก PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT โ€” Japan Meteorological Agency, Feb 11, 2026, 10:00 JST

Q (NHK): Director Sato, has the JMA formally apologised for the false alarm?
Director Sato: We have issued a public apology. But I want to be clear โ€” our instruments were functioning correctly. The seismic activity was real. The source was... non-geological. We did not anticipate a biological origin for a 2.1 magnitude event. Nobody did.
Q (Reuters): Is it true you're updating your detection algorithms?
Director Sato: Yes. We are implementing what we internally call the "Jindal Filter." It will screen out seismic signatures matching a frequency profile of 4.7-11.2 Hz with ambulatory periodicity. We are collaborating with IIT Moob-bay on the calibration data.
Q (Times of India): Yamamoto-san, you personally wrote a 14-page ban recommendation. Can you summarise?
Security Chief Yamamoto: Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. We have 1,500 earthquakes a year. We are prepared for earthquakes. We are not prepared for Mr. Jindal. The 14 pages are necessary because the threat assessment covers every possible scenario โ€” walking, running, stairs, escalators, the Shinkansen. Each one is a distinct seismic risk category.
Q (BBC): Has anyone considered simply... asking him to walk slowly?
Yamamoto: He was walking slowly. That is the problem.

Panshul's Family Reacts

Back in Rajasthan, the Jindal family is dealing with the fallout in characteristically divergent ways.

"Beta, ye tera papa ke side se aaya hai." โ€” Sunita Jindal (Panshul's mother), still in denial, speaking to Aaj Tak

Panshul's father, Rajesh Jindal, who is flat-chested, told a local reporter: "I have looked at every photo album. My side of the family โ€” nothing. Her side โ€” nothing. His dadi claims the great-grandmother had the same gift. There is no evidence. I am genuinely confused by the genetics."

Cousin Rohit Jindal, described by neighbours as "flat as a chapati," declined to comment, stating only: "Family reunions are going to be very awkward this Diwali."

Neighbour Mrs. Khurana has filed a fresh complaint with the Residents' Welfare Association: "We already had structural vibrations from next door. Now he's causing international incidents? The property values are going to crash."

Panshul Jindal in exclusive news interview
EXCLUSIVE: Panshul Jindal during his first on-camera interview after the Nipp-on Event. He appeared confused by the attention. (Photo: Times of India / Tokyo Bureau)

Exclusive Interview: Panshul Speaks

When reached for comment at his hotel in Tokyo, Jindal appeared confused by the attention. Times of India obtained an exclusive 20-minute interview โ€” the first since the incident.

"Main toh bas staircase se utar raha tha. Earthquake ka toh pata hi nahi chala. Sab log bhag rahe the. Maine socha fire drill hogi. Maine coffee order kiya." โ€” Panshul Jindal, in an exclusive interview with Times of India

When asked about the airport X-ray incident, Jindal shrugged: "Every airport does this. LAX, Dubai, Delhi โ€” same reaction. I've stopped explaining. I just stand there and let them call their supervisors."

Asked about his plans, he said he intends to fly back to India on Thursday. IndiGo has reportedly requested that he purchase two seats. Jindal has refused, citing the Supreme Court's ruling in Panshul v. Gravity which established his right to single-seat occupancy.

His dog Biscuit and cat Newton are reportedly being cared for by roommate Vikram "Vicky" Malhotra back in Jaipur. "Vicky thought it was a weighted blanket for three months," Jindal added, unprompted. "He's still in therapy."

International Reactions

The Nipp-on Event has drawn reactions from governments, institutions, and celebrities worldwide.

๐ŸŒ International Response Summary

Social Media Reacts

๐Ÿ˜ญ
confused delhiite
@confused_delhiite
Bhai ne Japan ko hila diya. Literally. #NippOnEvent
2:14 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 47.3K Likes ยท 12.1K Retweets
๐ŸŒ
USGS โœ“
@USGS
This explains several anomalies in our 2024 Jaipur dataset. We have updated our seismic detection algorithms to filter "Jindal-class events." #NippOnEvent
3:22 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 89.4K Likes ยท 31.2K Retweets
VS
Victoria's Secret โœ“
@VictoriasSecret
We stand by our decision to decline measurement. #NippOnEvent
4:01 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 112K Likes ยท 45.6K Retweets
๐Ÿฅ›
Mother Dairy โœ“
@MotherDairy
We see a franchise opportunity here. DM us, Mr. Jindal. 3.7L/day is commercially viable. #NippOnEvent
5:30 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 67.8K Likes ยท 22.3K Retweets
๐Ÿงต
Sarojini Nagar Guddu โœ“
@GudduSarojini
I am the ONLY vendor in India who will sell to Panshul ji. Triple price but I deliver. DM for bulk bra orders. International shipping available. #NippOnEvent #ShopLocal
6:12 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 34.2K Likes ยท 8.9K Retweets
โœˆ๏ธ
Pilot Deepak Singh
@CaptDeepakSingh
I once declared a false emergency because cargo weight didn't match passenger count. That passenger was Panshul Jindal. Today I feel vindicated. #NippOnEvent
7:45 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 52.1K Likes ยท 14.7K Retweets
๐Ÿง˜
Yoga Instructor Ananya
@AnanyaYogaLife
Downward dog is fine. Cobra pose... we don't talk about cobra pose. I had Panshul in my class ONCE. The yoga mat is still in therapy. #NippOnEvent
8:03 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 28.9K Likes ยท 7.2K Retweets
๐Ÿ“ท
Wedding Photographer Bunty
@BuntyClicksAll
I needed a wide-angle lens. For ONE person. The family photo required three frames stitched together. And Panshul wasn't even the groom. #NippOnEvent
9:18 PM ยท Feb 10, 2026 ยท 41.3K Likes ยท 11.4K Retweets

What Happens Next

Multiple investigations are now underway simultaneously:

๐Ÿ“‹ Ongoing Investigations & Proceedings

Census Officer Pankaj, who spent 45 minutes in 2024 arguing whether to count "them" separately, has weighed in on the bureaucratic implications: "If Japan bans him, do they ban all of him, or just the chest? This is a sovereignty question."

Passport Officer Geeta, who required three attempts to photograph Jindal for his passport ("The photo booth couldn't fit everything. Special clearance was needed."), told Times of India: "Honestly, I'm surprised he got through immigration at all."

The Indian Embassy in Tokyo has not issued a formal statement but sources say Ambassador-level discussions are underway regarding what one diplomat called "the most unusual consular case in bilateral history."

Official Response

When reached for a final comment before publication, Jindal said:

"Main toh bas ghar jaana chahta hoon. Newton bhi miss kar raha hoga." โ€” Panshul Jindal, referring to his cat, who treats his chest as a personal gravity well

Jindal is scheduled to fly back to India on Thursday. His Uber to the airport has already been booked at the 14.2x surge multiplier. Autorickshaw driver Pappu, who was offered the fare, reportedly "stared for 30 seconds, turned off the meter, and drove away."