A wave of seismic tremors has unsettled residents in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, with a series of earthquakes recorded over a period spanning Thursday night to Friday afternoon. The repeated jolts triggered significant panic, particularly in three talukas of Rajkot district, forcing many people to abandon their homes and seek safety in open spaces.
Sequence of Seismic Events
Official reports indicate that at least 12 distinct tremors were felt by the public, with their magnitudes ranging from 2.6 to 3.8 on the Richter scale. However, the official data from monitoring equipment presents an even more active picture. Rajkot Collector Om Prakash clarified that a total of 21 tremors were recorded in the affected areas. The intensity of these seismic events varied significantly, with the weakest measured at 1.4 magnitude and the strongest peaking at 3.8 magnitude.
Impact and Public Response
The tremors were concentrated in the Upleta, Dhoraji, and Jetpur talukas of Rajkot district. The repeated shaking of the earth caused widespread alarm among the local population. Fearing potential damage or stronger aftershocks, a large number of residents took the precautionary measure of moving to open fields and safer outdoor locations during the period of activity. This spontaneous movement highlights the level of anxiety caused by the unexpected seismic swarm.
Official Monitoring and Context
While the event caused panic, local authorities are actively monitoring the situation. The disclosure by Collector Om Prakash regarding the higher number of recorded tremors suggests sensitive equipment detected smaller events not felt by residents. The Saurashtra region, while not the most seismically active zone in India, has experienced tremors in the past. This incident serves as a reminder for the region's preparedness for such natural events. Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties from the series of tremors so far.
