In Gujarat, earthquake tremors were felt in the early morning in some parts of the Rajkot district, causing panic among the people. With the first reports, the epicentre of the earthquake was estimated to be approximately 28 kilometres south of Upleta, which caused its vibration to be felt in the city of Rajkot and the surrounding areas.
The tremors were felt in the early hours, and when the majority of the people were at home. People in the area complained of sudden vibrations, doors and windows shaking and movement of household objects. Citizens fled their residences in terror in various localities, with memories of seismic activities in the past in the area. The shocks had a couple of seconds, but they were strong enough to make people worried.
The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) officials at Gandhinagar confirmed the seismic activity and said that the earthquake was of mild to moderate strength. The precise size was under evaluation at the reporting time. The shaking was easily experienced even with the short period of time since the epicentre was quite near the populated areas.
No loss of life or significant damage to property has been reported so far. The disaster management teams and district authorities have been keeping a close watch on the situation. As a precaution, they have maintained emergency services, but there are no aftershocks that have been confirmed yet.
Gujarat is a seismically sensitive area, and some areas come under Seismic Zones III and IV. The state is prone to earthquakes, but the most memorable earthquake that has rocked the state was the Bhuj earthquake that devastated the state in the year 2001, and even a slight earthquake is something that residents worry about. The experts clarify that this type of earthquake arises as a result of sudden movements along the fault lines under the surface of the earth.
After the tremors, the authorities advised the citizens to stay calm and not to panic. Individuals were instructed not to be in destabilized or deteriorated structures and to adhere to normal rules of earthquake safety in case of aftershocks. Authorities also cautioned against rumours being spread on social media, and only credible information should be adhered to by official sources.
The earthquake momentarily shook the morning routine, but normalcy slowly resumed following the fact that no additional tremor was reported. However, the residents were on the lookout in most cases, particularly at high-rise buildings.
Seismologists observe that although the damage caused by small earthquakes is not normally too strong, it is important to pay attention to earthquake preparedness, such as safe construction, as well as the awareness of the population.
The officials are on a high alert to monitor the seismic activities in the area. Additional updates shall be given in case there are any changes to the situation.
