5.3 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Telangana: Tremors in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
On December 4, 2024, morning, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook Mulugu district of Telangana with widespread tremors in Hyderabad and parts of Andhra Pradesh. The quake occurred at 7:27 IST. Panic has gripped residents, though no casualty or major damage has been reported so far.
The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was at Mulugu, at a depth of 40 km, and with coordinates at 18.44 N latitude and 80.24 E longitude. This is considered to be a rare occurrence for this region as Telangana generally experiences low seismic activity. Tremors were felt throughout the state, but most intensely in the capital city of Hyderabad, where people were taken aback.
Experts have counseled people in the impacted zones to be vigilant, avoid congested places, and evacuate buildings that could easily collapse in case aftershocks strike. The quake has threatened the preparedness mechanisms against seismic action in this zone, though it falls in Zone II-low intensity seismic zone.
Telangana is located in Zone II, which has relatively low seismicity compared to other regions in India. In contrast, Zone V has the most intense seismic activity and comprises about 11% of India. Though Telangana hardly has strong earthquakes, experts are keeping an eye on the situation and advising caution so that there are no accidents during aftershocks.
The earthquake in Telangana is the latest in a series of seismic events across India. Just days earlier, a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck Assam's Karbi Anglong region, and a magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled Jammu and Kashmir on November 28. While there were no major damages reported from these events, the recent earthquake in Telangana has attracted significant attention due to its unusual intensity for the region.
The residents of Hyderabad and its vicinity are still reeling due to the rare phenomenon; however, authorities are hopeful that the situation will stabilize further with further assessments. The National Center for Seismology and local authorities continue to assess the situation after the earthquake and are calling on people to remain vigilant.
