Denizens in many areas south and west of the city spent a restless Friday night thanks to mild tremors caused by a shallow earthquake epicentered near Budvel.
The first tremors were noticed around 10.30 p.m. in many areas including Jubilee Hills, Towlichowki, Rajendranagar and Pahadishareef, besides some parts of Old City.
“We noticed a buzzing sound and felt tremors that lasted five to seven seconds before it stopped. It caused panic in the area, forcing residents out of their homes,” said P. Rahul, a resident of Prashasan Nagar in Jubilee Hills.
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Seismic sensors at city-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Uppal recorded the earthquake. Data retrieved from sensors around midnight by scientists showed that a very shallow earthquake of magnitude 1.8 on the Richter Scale had occurred in the vicinity of Budvel.
“As the earthquake was shallow, its effect was felt far from it where it occurred. There is not much cause for concern. The area where it occurred is not known to be active in seismic terms,” said D. Srinagesh, head of NGRI’s Seismology Observatory.
Dr. Srinagesh said that such earthquakes occur when very minute faults, usually in the range of millimetres or centimetres rupture to release energy. They are not of concern, he assured. He further said that existence of granite in the earth’s crust in areas like Hyderabad would make for easy energy dissipation to far flung areas, even in case of small and shallow earthquakes.
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