Date:31/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033151930300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Caller scares people with earthquake hoax

Staff Reporter

People of 3 mandals rush out of their homes
Caller says RR district already affected by quake

SANGAREDDY: A mere phone call from one of the relatives in neighboring Rangareddy district to a family in Zaheerabad has kept the people of three mandals awake all through the night.

It was past midnight on Saturday when the phone call of a possible major earthquake in Medak district spread like wild fire in the Zaheerabad, Munipally and Sadasivapet mandals, people left their homes and ran for shelter on the streets.

The phone call cautioned the people to save themselves from death by staying outdoors, because it already affected people in Rangareddy district.

As a result thousands of residents from Zaheerabad, Allipur, Marpalli, Patluru, Morampalli, Budhera and Itikepalli kept a vigil all through night.

Some young men formed into groups and kept were awake throughout the night.

Fears allayed

Only in the morning of Sunday did the revenue officials explained to them that there was no earthquake either in Rangareddy or in Medak and it was only a false alarm.

The residents heaved a sigh of relief and returned to the safety of their homes.