Mild tremors drive residents into panic

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The ripples of the earthquake that hit western India today drove residents of Chennai and its suburbs into a panic when they felt mild tremors early this morning.

Residents of various parts of the city, particularly Kodambakkam, Saligramam, Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam, Anna Nagar, Poonamallee, Koyambedu and Nerkundram said they experienced tremors for several seconds.

At several places, vessels and household articles tumbled and people felt trembling and transient giddiness. Walls developed minor cracks at some places. Many complained of uneasiness in the stomach.

Mr. S. Venkata Krishnamurthy, senior observer at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Nungambakkam, in charge of the `Global Seismological Network Centre' said, about 8-50 a.m., the seismograph started showing signs of a tremor.

Briefing presspersons, Mr. A. K. Bhatnagar, Deputy Director General of Meteorology in the Regional Meteorological Centre linked the tremors to the earthquake in Gujarat.

In the recent past, different parts of the State and neighbouring Kerala had experienced earthquakes. The recent ones were on December 12 at Idukki (5.0 on the Richter scale) and on January 4 at Dharmapuri (3.4).

Following the tremor, media offices and the Meteorological Centre were flooded with enquiries from people. Mr. T. R. Kannan, a retired official of the Madras High Court and a resident of Majestic Colony in Valasaravakkam, said the pieces of furniture at his residence trembled during the tremor.

Ms. Lakshmi Krishnan, a housewife on Lake View Road of West Mambalam, complained of giddiness. Her relative, Ms. M. Saraswathi, a resident of Alwar Thirunagar, said she felt as if someone was rocking the building.

Relatives of people living in Gujarat also made anxious calls to newspaper offices. All of them enquired if there was a helpline available. Some residents had relatives working in areas very close to the epicentre of the quake in Bhuj area.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Swap a ticket, surf the Net
Next     : Citizens catch criminals more promptly