Tremors in Kutch not likely to be earthquake: ISR

Gandhinagar/Bhuj

The Institute of Seismological Research today categorically said that the around 40 light tremors like vibrations in various areas of Kutch district reportedly felt during last 24 hours are most likely not related to earthquake.

A four member team of the Gandhinagar based Institute of the state government is on a visit to Kutch to investigate the matter which has raised fears among locals many of whom were survivors of the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001 that killed hundreds in and around Bhuj. The district falls under highly vulnerable seismic zone 5.

Senior Scientist of the Institute Santosh Kumar today said that the final report of the investigation would be handed over to the district administration and the state government in two to three days but primary findings showed that the tremors or the vibrations were not related to earthquake. ‘We have recorded almost 40 such vibrations till today. They are all below 1.5 magnitude on the richter scale. The pattern also shows that these can’t be earthquake related tremors. Though the real cause will be known only after completion of the investigation yet a possibility of these being caused by high speed air force fighter sonic planes drill can’t be ruled out,’ he said.

Notably Bhuj is also a major base of the Air Force.

Earlier the residents of some localities of district headquarter Bhuj and other areas like Rapar, Bhachau, Anjar. Adipur, Gandhidham, Mundra and Madvi had claimed to have heard sounds accompanied by light tremors.

– DeshGujarat