Mild tremors in parts of Andhra trigger panic

Mild tremors in parts of Andhra Pradesh Thursday triggered panic among people. There was no loss of life or damage to property.

People ran out of their houses in several parts of Krishna and Guntur districts in north coastal Andhra and Khammam district in Telangana region as the earth vibrated for few seconds.

People in some areas said they experienced tremors at least five times between 12.25 p.m. and 12.30 p.m. Vessels and other house-hold items trembled  and even fell on the ground, people said.

Fearing another earthquake, people were reluctant to return home and preferred to stay in open grounds. Scientists at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) here described the tremors as seismic vibrations. The tremors were not recorded at the observatory. A scientist said only tremors of an intensity of above 2.8 on the Richter scale get recorded.

The NGRI scientists said there was no need for panic as such vibrations are a common occurrence. According to chief scientist and head of seismology observatory D. Srinagesh, only tremors of an intensity of six can cause damage.