North Gujarat Shaken Awake: Early Morning Tremor Sparks Memories, But No Harm Done

A minor earthquake of 3.4 on the Richter scale hit northern Gujarat in the early morning hours of Saturday, causing temporary anxiety but no death or damage to property. The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar said the quake was measured at 3:35 am with the epicentre near Vav in Banaskantha district, at a distance of about 27 km east-north-east of Vav, at a shallow depth of 4.9 km.

 

District officials quickly issued a statement stating that there was no report of injury or structural damage in the affected region and that normalcy was restored speedily. The earthquake is an indication of how susceptible Gujarat is to earthquakes because the state falls in a seismically vulnerable zone and has had nine strong earthquakes in two centuries. The area still remembers the disastrous Kutch earthquake of January 26, 2001, which is still one of India's worst, killing almost 13,800 people and injuring more than 1.67 lakh individuals.

 

While Saturday's quake was small and didn't interfere with daily routines, authorities keep reiterating the need for disaster preparedness and public awareness in the region. The ISR and Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority keep watchful eyes on seismic activity and remind locals to remain aware of safety procedures.

 

Source: Economic Times