More tremors in Idukki, Kottayam districts

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 13. Idukki and Kottayam districts experienced at least two smaller tremors in the early hours of Wednesday.

Some people said that they heard a loud noise. Others heard trembling noises. The Director of the Weather Station here, Mr. V. K. Gangadharan, said that seismographs of the station had recorded tremors of lower magnitudes around 2.10 a.m. and 9.15 a.m. (According to a Kottayam report, the areas include Erattupetta and Pala.)

The scientist of the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Dr. C. P. Rajendran, said that the seismograph of their Peechi station had recorded an after-shock around 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The magnitude was about 4.5 on the Richter Scale. (This supports the report of the Indian Meteorological Department that the main shock was of the magnitude 5 on the Richter Scale.)

A scientist of the Centre, Mr. K. R. Unnikrishnan, would leave for Kottayam and Idukki tomorrow for preliminary investigations about the tremors. Two technicians of the Meteorological Department would also be reaching Idukki tomorrow with equipment for studying the tremors. They may be camping there for a month to record the after-shocks.

Dr. Rajendran and Mrs. Kusala Rajendran of the CESS will be leaving for Idukki in a day or two. The Director of the CESS, Mr. M. Baba, said that it would be at least two days before a preliminary report on the tremors is drawn up.

Our Staff Reporter writes from Kottayam:

A team from the Department of Mining and Geology today paid a visit to the quake-hit areas in the district. The eight- member team led by Dr. K. A. Padmanabhan, visited areas such as Thiruvalla, Manarcadu, Chengalam Paika, Pala and Melucavu. The team is expected to submit its preliminary report to the State Government on Thursday.

It is learnt that their report might confirm the findings of the Kerala State Electricity Board that the intensity of the quake was only 3.5 on the Richter Scale and its epicentre was Melucavu.

A Central team from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is expected to arrive here on Thursday to study the quake.

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