New Delhi, May 21: An earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale rocked parts of eastern and northern India on Wednesday night. The epicentre of the quake is 60 km off the port of Paradip, Odisha in the Bay of Bengal, 10 km below the sea bed. According to PTI, the tremor was also felt in some parts of Chennai.
No damage has been reported and no tsunami warning has been issued although people rushed out of multi-storey buildings in several cities in the affected region. The quake which last for 30 to 40 seconds struck at 9.51 p.m. IST.
Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh felt the quake. Mild tremors were also felt in Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region.
In Delhi, tremors were felt in two 20-second waves, according to witnesses. Police sources confirmed that the tremors did not disturb agitators of the Aam Aadmi Party protesting their leader's arrest outside Tihar jail. Police also did not desert their positions, a sub-inspector said.
"I was absolutely terrified." said S. Sikdar, a media professional. "I ran out of my office. But I'm more worried about the Jarawa tribe in the Andamans that may face extinction."
Met Department sources said that seismic activity has been reported in Sumatra and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the recent past, but it is not clear where it is linked to this quake.
The quake struck 60 km east of Paradip at a depth of 10 km, said L.S. Rathore, Director General, India Meterological Department.
“The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Bay of Bengal with its coordinates being 18.1 degree north and 87.8 degree east,” said Ministry of Earth Science Secretary Shailesh Nayak.
A Chennai report said tremors were felt in parts of Nungambakkam, Porur and Triplicane where people rushed out of their homes.
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