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Tremor scares Bangalore, schools closed

M D Riti in Bangalore

Most schools and colleges in Bangalore closed for the day after a tremor was felt in the city in the morning.

Predictions of a subsequent tremor at noon caused widespread panic, with most educational institutions spontaneously deciding to close for the day to avoid any possible risk. News of fresh tremors in Gujarat hastened their decision.

All the children of Tiny Tots Playhouse in Rajamahal Vilas were sitting outside their classrooms, gazing up happily at the sunny skies, while their teachers looked around worriedly. "Television news forecasts predict a regular earthquake at noon," said Principal Kausalya Narayanan. "Many parents rushed to our playhouse and picked up their wards."

"We think the central point of this earthquake must have been within 35 kilometres south of Bangalore," says Dr A L Koppar, director-in-charge of the meteorological centre.

The centre placed the epicentre roughly in the region of Kanakapura village, just outside the city limits.

"The districts of Kolar and Mandya also experienced tremors," continued Koppar. "Mangalore City also felt it. The reasons for today's tremor are not yet known."

No damage to life or property was reported anywhere. But most people who were inside buildings experienced two seconds of severe shaking at about 0815 hours. Some parts of Bangalore experienced it more severely than others. But most of those out in the open felt nothing.

This correspondent, who was out on the streets at the time, felt a sensation of giddiness and nausea as the ground seemed to move briefly. Most people who were out on the roads experienced similar sensations, and attributed it to personal ill health rather than a likely natural calamity.

Scientists who were at the Republic Day Parade at the Indian Space Research Organisation launch centre at Sriharikota three days ago, when the massive quake hit Gujarat, report a similar sensation. Many say they felt queasy as the ground seemed to move beneath them. Several of the ISRO top brass, including some of their distinguished advisers, had gathered there to review the Geo-stationary Satellite Launch Vehicle, which is due to be tested in a few weeks.

Telephone exchanges were clogged until noon in Bangalore as everyone tried to find out what exactly was going on. With land communication lines going down, and staff of many offices rushing outdoors into open areas fearing a quake, even mobile telephone networks began to get overcrowded and malfunction.

Offices have resumed normal functioning now. But schools are closed for the day, much to the delight of children, who now have an extended Republic Day weekend.

The Complete Coverage

OTHER SITES WITH INFORMATION
ON THE GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE:
panjokutch.com
kutchinfo.com
ahmedabad.com

EXTERNAL LINKS
The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
All about earthquakes in India and their impact
India Meteorological Department's earthquake reports
Disaster relief set-up in India
Major earthquakes across the world in recent times
A post-quake volunteer's unusual tryst with the departed
Earthquake News: Web site offering comprehensive news, information and features
Earthquake site map
USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program

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