However, no casualty or damage to property were reported, the police said.
People rushed out of their houses in panic at Gopalapuram, Kodambakkam, Porur, Thiruvanmiyur, Anna Nagar and several other places under the impact of the tremor which lasted for a few seconds, they said.
Met officials said the tremors were due to the impact of an earthquake that occurred at 7.9 degree north and 91.9 degree east-west coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands measuring of 7.8 on the Richter Scale at 12.56 am.
Following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has issued a tsunami watch for all areas of the Indian Ocean.