Mild tremors in several parts

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. Various parts of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Pondicherry experienced a mild tremors on Friday morning.

The geological phenomenon, which lasted a few seconds, occurred between 8.45 a.m. and 9.45 a.m. There was no major damage to property or casualty due to the tremors, according to reports reaching here.

Thiruvaiyaru, Ayyampettai, Kumbakonam, Papanasam and Pappanadu in Thanjavur district, Cuddalore, Vallalar Nagar, Vandipalayam, Koothapakkam, Mandarakuppam near Neyveli, Chidambaram and other coastal belts in Cuddalore district were among the areas where the tremor was felt.

Struck by panic, people rushed out of houses and shops. Some persons complained of giddiness and nausea.

At the Government College for Women, Kumbakonam, the students who were presenting a performance on the occasion of Republic Day, felt that the `stage was moving' and jumped off it. Vegetable bags kept in markets at Thiruvaiyaru came tumbling down.

In Pondicherry, the Republic Day celebrations at the Indira Gandhi sports complex, in which the Lt. Governor unfurled the tricolour, was interrupted for a few seconds due to the tremor.

Visitors rushed out of the pandal. To ensure that the people did not become panicky, an announcement was made by an official that it was only a mild tremor.

Reports of mild tremors were received from different parts in and around Pondicherry. Slight cracks were reported in the ground in a sports complex.

According to the daily weather report issued by the meteorological department here, `an earthquake of moderate intensity having its magnitude 6.9 on the Richter scale with its epicentre at about 1,500 km northwest of Chennai in Bhuj Gujarat region was recorded by seismographs at GSN observatory, Nungambakkam, at 8.50 a.m. on Friday.'

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