On Wednesday morning, residents of Mulugu in Telangana were jolted awake by an earthquake that registered a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. The earthquake struck at 7:27 a.m., with its epicenter located at the Godavari riverbed, about 200 km from the state capital, Hyderabad. The tremors were felt not only in Telangana but also in neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, sending shockwaves across a significant area.
This earthquake, classified as the second-largest in Telangana in the last 55 years, drew the attention of experts. Retired scientist Purnachandra Rao from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) noted that earthquakes of this magnitude are rare in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that the last earthquake of similar magnitude, a 5.7, occurred in 1969 in the temple town of Bhadrachalam. Smaller earthquakes have been recorded in the region since then, but this was one of the most significant tremors in recent history.
The tremors caused light shaking, and many residents of Warangal, a city near Mulugu, reported ceiling fans swaying and items falling from cupboards. However, the damage from this earthquake appears to be minimal. Dr. Prakash Kumar, Director of CSIR-NGRI, assured the public that while Hyderabad and the surrounding region are not typically prone to strong earthquakes, the tremors, though felt, were not severe.
India's seismic landscape is classified into four zones based on the intensity and frequency of earthquakes. The country’s landmass is divided into Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV, and Zone V, with Zone V being the most seismically active. Telangana, where the recent earthquake occurred, falls under Zone II, which is considered the least active region. Despite this, the state, like many parts of India, is not immune to the occasional tremor, and this recent event serves as a reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness.
Following the earthquake, experts like Purnachandra Rao suggested that aftershocks could follow in the coming days, but there is no immediate cause for panic. He explained that the quake was likely triggered by the Godavari fault zone, where two blocks of the Earth's crust suddenly shifted, causing the seismic event. This fault line is one of the key geological features in the region, and while aftershocks are common, they are generally less severe than the main event.
The incident also prompted calls for better earthquake preparedness. D. Srinagesh, a retired chief scientist at NGRI, emphasized the need for municipalities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to ensure that buildings are constructed with earthquake-resistant designs, considering the potential for future seismic activity. Srinagesh pointed out that the 1993 Killari earthquake, which caused significant loss of life, underscored the dangers of inadequate building structures in seismic zones. In contrast, a similar-magnitude earthquake in San Francisco had a far lower death toll, thanks to the region’s robust earthquake-resistant infrastructure.
This earthquake serves as a wake-up call for both the state governments and residents to take earthquake preparedness seriously. As a country prone to various natural hazards, including earthquakes and landslides, India’s focus on building resilient infrastructure and educating the public about safety measures could save thousands of lives and reduce property damage during future seismic events.
