Quake jolts several parts of India

New Delhi/Hyderabad: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale on Wednesday night jolted Delhi, National Capital Region, Chennai and parts of eastern and northern India.

The quake struck 60 km east of Paradip at a depth of 10 km at 9.52 pm, said L S Rathore, Director General, India Meteorological Department. He said there was no threat of tsunami. "The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Bay of Bengal with its coordinates being 18.1 degree north and 87.8 degree east, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale," said Ministry of Earth Science Secretary Shailesh Nayak.

Tremors in many parts of AP

Mild tremors were felt at different places in the four districts of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Chittoor and Krishna about 10 pm on Wednesday. The tremors were felt for 12-16 seconds. People ran out of their homes in fear. Reports of shocks occurring twice came in from Vizianagaram district and different mandals of Srikakulam.

East coast becoming seismic active

The earthquake has unveiled a new area of seismic activity. According to scientists at National Geophysical Research Institute in Hyderabad, the epicenter was 200 nautical miles away from the coast of Visakhapatnam.

Till now, earthquakes have been occurring deep inside the ocean in Andaman Islands and up to Indonesian Islands. Scientists are now concerned that “for the first time the epicenter has shifted to east coast in recent times and a quake of a magnitude of 5.6 in Richter scale is something serious that needs serious investigation.” Though the Tsunami Warning Centre at INCOIS has ruled out any possibility of Tsunami as a fallout of the quake, it has thrown enough warning to scientific community to be vigilant hereafter. “As of now, we cannot say anything. It’s totally preliminary stage. We should look into all aspects” Dr Srinagesh, a senior scientist at NGRI, told The Hans India.