Mild tremors in Srikakulam cause locals to panic, no casualty: Officials

SRIKAKULAM: Mild tremors were today felt in some areas of the district causing panic among the local residents, though there was no casualty, officials said.

Tremors measuring 3.5 on Richter scale were experienced by people of Itchapuram, Kaviti, Sompeta, Mandasa and Kanchili mandals for about 10 to 15 seconds around 6 AM today, the disaster management department of district Collectorate said.

The panic-struck people ran out of their houses when they felt the earth shaking.

"The tremors were very mild, with an intensity of 3.5 on the Richter scale. There is no cause for panic, there is no danger," an official of disaster management department said.

All the tremor-hit mandals are situated adjacent to the shore of Bay of Bengal.

Fearing a tsunami-like calamity, people remained out of their houses while discussing the phenomena.

Though no casualty or damage was reported, District Collector Dr P Laxminarasimham alerted local administration and instructed the officials to take necessary measures immediately in the event of any untoward incident.