Hyderabad: Here is how people reacted to 5.3 magnitude earthquake

Hyderabad: An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the epicenter of the tremblor was Mulugu,

“Earthquake of M: 5.3, on 04/12/2024 07:27:02 IST, Lat: 18.44 N, Long: 80.24 E, Depth: 40 Km, Location: Mulugu, Telangana,” NCS wrote on X.

The tremors were felt across Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Panic gripped the people as tremors rocked the city.

Speaking to NewsMeter, retired chief scientist, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) Dr Sri Nagesh said: “Telangana reported an earthquake of magnitude 5.3 on Richter scale on December 4 morning. The depth of the earthquake is 40 kilometers. As per the NCS, the earthquake originated in the Godavari rift. However, it is not the first of its kind. In 1969 an earthquake of similar magnitude occurred in Telangana and it was called the Bhadrachalam earthquake. If you look at the Telangana region, there are two Seismic zones, 2 and 3, respectively. Today’s earthquake occurred in seismic zone 3.”

“Most importantly, this earthquake is a reminder for state municipalities to access the safety of the built environment for future design for buildings, As per the seismic zoning map of India, The municipality regulations of buildings should be as per the IS18:93:2016 seismic senses. Since municipalities give building approvals, they should follow the regularities as per the seismic map.”

Soon after, residents took to social media and local forums to share their experiences.

• Akash Naredi from Hyderabad said, “Felt a jerk in the bed. The glasses on the balcony doors were vibrating and making noise as if some drilling was going on. I got up to check, but the noise and vibration stopped. I wondered if it was a quake and later confirmed it online.”

• Akula Krishna from Quthbullapur Kompally stated, “Yes, we felt the same. Tremors lasted for about five seconds.”

• Alok Surana from Marredpally shared, “Felt it in Marredpally. A window shattered, and the tremble was strong enough to be noticeable.”

• Priya Sharma from Gachibowli said, “I was sitting at my desk when I felt the floor vibrate. At first, I thought it was a large vehicle passing by, but it continued for a few seconds.”

• Ravi Kumar from Kukatpally recalled, “We all rushed outside when we felt the building shake. It was a scary moment.”

• Suresh Naidu in Khammam noted, “We felt a light tremor here, and our hanging lamps started swaying.”

• Padmaja Reddy from Warangal said, “The tremors were brief, but they left us all on edge. It’s not something we’re used to.”

• Sunitha Rao in Vijayawada added, “I was on the phone when I felt the chair vibrate. It was an unusual experience.”

• Ajay Verma from Madhapur remarked, “The ceiling fan started wobbling, and we knew something was wrong.”

• Kavita Gupta from Uppal mentioned, “Our dog started barking before we even felt the tremors. Animals can sense these things earlier.”

• Manohar Reddy in Karimnagar said, “I thought it was construction activity nearby, but later realized it was a quake.”

• Nithya Prasad from Secunderabad noted, “It felt like someone had lightly pushed my chair. A strange feeling, indeed.”

• Santosh Mishra in LB Nagar said, “My family and I felt the vibration in the walls. Thankfully, nothing broke.”

• Pavan Kumar from Nizamabad shared, “We were still in bed when the windows began to rattle. It was over before we could react.”

• Karthik Reddy from Banjara Hills stated, “I saw water ripples in my glass, and that’s when I realized it was an earthquake.”

• Meera Das from Kothapet mentioned, “It was brief, but the shaking was enough to make us step out of the house.”

• Shalini Rao from Jubilee Hills said, “Our kitchen utensils started making noise, and we immediately knew it was a tremor.”

• Harish Babu in Adilabad commented, “Even though it lasted just a few seconds, it was enough to create panic.”

• Swathi Pillai in Kondapur remarked, “My friends and I were at a café when we felt the tables move. It was surreal.”

• Ramesh Goud from Chandanagar concluded, “We were watching TV when we noticed the picture frame on the wall shake. It was an unforgettable moment.”

Seismic Zones in India

India is divided into four seismic zones based on vulnerability: Zone II (low seismicity) to Zone V (high seismicity). Telangana falls under Zone II, a low-intensity zone. Despite this, experts highlighted the importance of preparedness.

Conclusion

While no major damage has been reported, the 5.3-magnitude earthquake has left Telangana residents shaken. Authorities continue to assess the situation, urging everyone to remain vigilant and report damages.