Tremor terror: 16 micro-earthquakes in 13 hours in Borabanda

HYDERABAD: Borabanda experienced as many as 16 micro-earthquakes in a span of thirteen and half hours —from 6.30 pm on Saturday to 8 am on Sunday—according to two seismographic stations placed at Borabanda by the National Geophysical Research Institute. The area experienced a similar phenomena around the same time last year.

“The activity is likely to continue for a few weeks,” said Dr  Srinagesh Davuluri, the Head of Seismology Observatory at NGRI. He added that there was nothing to worry as the tremors were recorded on the negative magnitude of the Richter scale.

Micro-earthquakes, he said, have been occurring in Borabanda for the past one week, but has become frequent since Friday when the residents started feeling them. The frequency intensified all through Saturday until wee hours of Sunday.

This, experts say, is similar to what occurred at Jubilee Hills in 1998 and 2000, Vanasthalipuram in 2010 and at Varikuntapadu, Nellore in 2016. The NGRI expert said the micro-earthquakes were a result of Hydroseismicity, a condition when rainfall variation can trigger earthquakes. “The recent rainfalls can be a reason for these tremors and the condition can continue for a few weeks based on the experiences we had earlier,” Dr Davuluri said. “The only reason people are afraid is because they are  occurring in a swarm and there are blast like sounds.  But, a strong sensitisation from the district management will help ease out people’s fears.”

It may be  mentioned that Hyderabad experienced sporadic rainfalls in the past few weeks which were described as ‘extremely intense’ by the India Meteorological Department— Hyderabad. Madhapur, located close to  Borabanda had recorded 6.1 cm in a span of one hour.

The GHMC has started a sensitisation programme for the public to avoid panic. “Announcements are being made from various public places including places of worship asking people to stay calm. Speaker announcements through autorickshaws in all colonies will start from Monday,” said Md Abdul Shafi, Corporator, Rahmath Nagar.

Not new to city

The tremors were similar to what happened earlier in some parts of  the city. It occurred in Jubilee Hills in 1998  and 2000, Vanasthalipuram in 2010 and Varikuntapadu, Nellore in 2016.
Areas affected: Rahmath Nagar, Habeeb Nagar Phase 1, 2 and 3, Sai Baba Nagar,  Indira Nagar, Borabanda, Ambedkar Nagar, and Bhavani Shankar Nagar
The Richter scale recorded on the negative magnitude

Fearing tremors, some residents move to safer places 

Seismologists assure micro-earthquakes are not dangerous, but they have left Borabanda residents in a state of panic. In fact, some residents who have relatives in the city are moving to their places fearing a major earthquake.   On the wee hours of Sunday, many people rushed out of their homes hearing a rumbling hollow sound that continued to occur at frequent intervals till 8 am. Many families living in multistorey buildings camped outside their houses, frightened that their builings would collapse.  The residents are still trying to understand the reason behind the tremors. B Premila, whose sons built a duplex last year shelling out `25 lakh, is in a state of gloom. “We are being very cautious. It is scary to even imagine that the building might collapse. All the hard work that my children have put in will be wasted.”