Rumours of tremors, quakes in Nizamabad, Adilabad

• Originate from cell phone calls
• People panic, rush out of houses, stay awake
• Sleep outside houses in some areas
• NGRI officials say no earthquakes
• Ask people not to believe in rumours

Nizamabad/Adilabad: There were widespread rumours of tremors and earthquakes in several areas of Nizamabad district since Tuesday midnight. The rumours said there were earthquakes, particularly in Jukkal, Bodhan, Nizamabad Rural, Kamareddy, Yellareddy, Banswada and other constituencies. People became panicky after the power supply failed.

Residents of these constituencies were forced to stay awake from 1 to 4 am on Wednesday following the rumours, which spread like wild fire. They came out of their houses.

The rumours originated in Nanded and Dharmabad areas of Maharashtra through cell phone calls. They spread after more people exchanged cell phone calls. Residents in several areas apprehended quakes. In fear, they rushed out of the houses and slept outside, including in some rural areas.

There were similar rumours in Medak, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts. In several areas of Mudhol, Nirmal and Khanapur constituencies of Adilabad district residents spent a restless night following rumours, which were spread by their relatives from Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts making telephone calls about impending quakes at around 2 am. They rushed to open grounds. Residents of Tanur, Mudhol, Kubhir, Lokeshwaram, Sarangapur, Dilavarpur, Bhainsa, Lakshmanchanda, Khanapur, Kadem and Nirmal mandals of Adilabad district also rushed out on to roads and spent time till morning without sleep. They heaved a sigh of relief after releasing that they calls were only rumours.

Officials of the National Geological Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad clarified that there were neither tremors or quakes. They said the people in the districts need not panic, while appealing to them not to believe such rumours.