A swarm of earthquakes, with magnitudes reaching up to 3.8 on the Richter scale, repeatedly shook parts of Gujarat's Saurashtra region over Thursday night and Friday, causing widespread alarm among residents.
Series of Tremors Trigger Panic
The seismic activity began on Thursday evening at 8:43 pm with a 3.3 magnitude tremor, its epicentre located near Upleta town. Over the following hours, a total of 21 distinct tremors were recorded in the talukas of Dhoraji, Jetpur, and Upleta within Rajkot district. The magnitudes varied, with the strongest measured at 3.8.
Frightened locals rushed out of their homes into open fields as a precaution. Many reported feeling intermittent mild shaking until Friday afternoon, leading several families to spend hours outdoors, fearing further jolts. "We ran out after the first shake and kept feeling mild ones," shared a resident, capturing the anxiety that gripped the area.
Official Response and School Closures
Rajkot Collector Om Prakash confirmed that while there was no loss of life or damage to property, the administration took immediate preventive measures. Old and unsafe buildings in the affected zones were identified, and residents were advised to move to safer locations.
In a significant step, the Rajkot District Education Officer (DEO), Dixit Patel, declared a holiday for government schools in Dhoraji and Jetpur on Friday. Approximately 118 government schools, along with private schools in Jetpur and all anganwadis operating in old buildings, remained closed for the day as a safety measure.
Understanding the 'Earthquake Swarm'
Seismological experts have classified this event as an 'earthquake swarm'. This phenomenon is typically caused by water seeping into existing fractures in the earth's crust. The increased pore pressure leads to the release of strain through a series of low to moderate magnitude earthquakes.
The Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) recorded at least 12 tremors ranging from 2.6 to 3.8 magnitude. According to experts, such swarm activity, while unsettling, usually does not result in major structural damage. The epicentres were pinpointed 27 to 30 km east-northeast of Upleta.
The district administration remains vigilant, having alerted local teachers, talatis, and sarpanchs about potentially unstable structures, ensuring community safety remains the top priority.
