A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Rajkot in Gujarat this afternoon. This was the second quake to hit near the city in less than 24 hours. The epicenter of the earthquake – reported around 12:57 pm – was about 82 km northwest of Rajkot, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
Last night, Rajkot experienced tremors as a 5.5 magnitude quake stuck 118 km north-northwest of the city at 8:13 pm, as per the NCS, the government’s nodal agency for monitoring seismic activity in the country.No damage was reported from the state which has reported the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases in India.
“Entire Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions, including Ahmedabad, felt the impact of the quake. The aftershock was of lower intensity. There is no report of any major damage to life and property from any area after the quake,” Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was quoted by news agency PTI.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held telephone conversations with the District Collectors of Kutch, Rajkot, and Patan, regions where the quake was felt and from where tremors were reported. His office said officials had been told to report damages and activate disaster management cells if needed.
This morning, four medium intensity quakes hit 90 km east of Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra felt tremors, according to official data. A 3.8 magnitude earthquake had struck near the city last night shortly after several parts of Gujarat were jolted.
As many as 14 quakes have hit Delhi or nearby regions, in the last two months, with a 4.5 magnitude event near Haryana’s Rohtak the biggest. “There is no need to panic but it is important to undertake preparedness and mitigation measures to reduce the risks,” NCS chief BK Bansal said last week.
Tremors are being felt in different parts of the country at a time when a lockdown is being eased to boost economic activity amid coronavirus.
