Bay quake shakes Visakhapatnam, many cities across India

Hyderabad: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale jolted Delhi, Ranchi, Vizag, Chennai and parts of eastern and northern India. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property, but the quake shook up residents.

The quake struck 60 km east of Paradip at a depth of 10 km at 9.52 pm in the Bay of Bengal, said L.S. Rathore, director-general, Indian Meteorological Department.

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) of the city-based INCOIS said there is no tsunami threat due to the earthquake.
A bulletin issued by the INCOIS said there was no tsunami threat for India due to the earthquake.

Meanwhile, INCOIS scientists said earthquakes of such magnitude have the small potential to trigger tsunamis but sea level gauges near the epicentre showed no tsunami activity.

In Andhra Pradesh, tremors were felt at several places along the coast including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.

A report from Vizag said people rushed out of homes at various places like MVP Colony, Yendada, and Gajuwaka. Vinod Vijayan, a resident of GR Residency, Yendada, said, “I had just arrived home from office when I felt the door shake. I entered and took out a bottle of water from the fridge, I felt the tremors again and also saw water shake. I did not waste any more time and got out of the house,” he said.

Bindu, of Prakashraopet, was sitting on the sofa and did not feel the early tremors. But then she heard the glass case vibrate and immediately rushed out.

A Chennai report said tremors were felt in parts of Nungambakkam, Porur and Triplicane where people rushed out of their homes.