Tremors hit Palghar district on Friday with the strongest, measuring 4.1 magnitude on the Richter scale, striking the region at 2.06 p.m. Tremors measuring a magnitude in excess of 3 on the Richter scale were recorded at 6.58 a.m, 10.03 a.m., 10.29 a.m., 2.06 p.m., 3.53 p.m. and 4.57 p.m. All tremors were observed and recorded by the Permanent Seismological Observatories operated by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
No casualties
The India Meteorological Department confirmed the occurrence of the tremors and said no casualties were reported. The National Center of Seismology also released a preliminary report on the tremors at Talsari taluka in Palghar district since November 10, 2018. According to the report, temporary field stations were installed at Vedanta Hospital in Dhundhalwadi to keep a check on tremors striking the region. Between January 25 and 27, two more temporary stations were set up at Dongripada and Talasari.
According to the report, the Palghar district is more prone to tremors and experienced the occurrence of ‘earthquake swarm’, tremors of small magnitude for long periods like three or four months. As there is no scientific method to predict the tremors, the NCS has advised residents to stay alert and follow dos and don’ts.
The NCS report said, “The occurrence being complex, the reports stated that it will not be possible to declare that the ongoing sequence may or may not lead to an earthquake of higher magnitude.”