TIRUCHY/SALEM: Mild tremors were felt at 11.30 am on Friday in various parts of Tiruchy and surrounding districts, causing panic among the people who ran out of their houses and stayed outside for a few minutes.However, people in Perambalur and Ariyalur said the tremors were stronger and longer in their area. In these two districts, articles fell down from shelves and students ran out from schools and colleges. Some of the school buildings and houses developed cracks.Some people felt the tremor in Tiruchy, while others could not make out what was happening.“I was watching TV around 11.30 am, when I felt a minor jerk. I also heard a strange noise,” Deepan Raj, an MBA student from S M Colony at Mannarpuram said.Raj soon went out and informed the neighbours, who also said they felt something similar. Like Mannarpuram, Cantonment and Sastri Road areas also felt the jerk.Due to tremors, a few buildings in Lalgudi, Samayapuram, Konalai and Ayakudi areas developed cracks.At Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, the employees stopped work and came out after they felt the tremors. Classes were suspended at Boiler Plant Girls Higher Secondary School, its primary school and middle school.Thuraimangalam, Thonda padi, Vaalikandapuram, Ranjankudikottaikurumbalur, Ammapalayam, Veppanthattai, Labbaikudikadu and adjoining areas in Perambalur were also hit by tremors.In Vengalam village, the kalasam of Lord Siva temple fell down. A few houses were partially damaged. Cracks were reported in more than 25 houses. Some of the schools were closed in the afternoon as mild cracks developed in the buildings.In Ariyalur, the tremors were felt in Malathankulam and people heard loud noises. Teachers of St Joseph’s Elementary School said they heard a loud noise followed by the tremors. They immediately evacuated the school buildings, without knowing what was happening.Commenting on the tremors, geologist S M Chandrasekhar said this region was not included in the earthquake-prone areas.But, the present tremors should be studied by the government and geologists to verify whether this region fell under earthquake-prone area or not, he added.Similarly, mild tremors were felt in several villages in Attur taluk in Salem around 11.30 am on Friday.According to a seismographic record at the Salem meteorological station, they measured 3.9 on the Richter scale. Although mild, they were more intense than the two (2.9 and 3.2) that hit parts of Valapadi and Attur taluks on June 21 this year.Thalaivasal was the first to report of a tremor at 11.30 am. Six minutes later, more pronounced ones were felt in the villages of Attur and Veeraganur. The vibrations lasted for half-a-minute and were felt in 20 villages. Cracks developed on the walls of houses in 10 villages, including Mumudi, Kallanatham and Paithur. No loss of property was reported.“It felt like a number of earthmovers were rolling together into our village,” said some residents.Attur revenue divisional officer S Selvaraj said a team has been sent to verify the reports. He said villages in Perambalur district had reported of wall cracks.Salem Collector K Maharabushanam said experts were looking at the cause for frequent tremors.
Comments
0 comment