Midnight tremors jolt ASR district, no damage reported

Visakhapatnam: Tremors were felt in parts of ASR district in Andhra Pradesh and Koraput district of Odisha late Saturday night, triggering panic as residents rushed out of their homes. No damage or injuries were reported.Residents in Paderu, Pedabayalu, Munchingiputtu and Araku valley mandals of ASR, along with several areas in southern Koraput, took shelter on streets after the quake struck around 11.31 pm. According to the National Center for Seismology, the tremors originated from a 4.4-magnitude earthquake centred near Koraput. People in Koraput, Jeypore, Semiliguda, Nandapur and nearby areas reported vibrations lasting nearly 10 seconds. The quake was recorded at a shallow depth of 5 km, intensifying the vibrations felt across the border in ASR district.Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic. "We were watching an IPL match when everything started shaking. Some stayed outdoors till 2 am fearing aftershocks," said Suresh Kumar of Pedabayalu. Another resident, Prasad of Munchingiputtu, recalled walls vibrating with a rumbling sound. Sixty-year-old M Jyoth said he had "never felt tremors before" and was still shaken by the experience."We were watching an IPL match on a mobile phone when everything started shaking. Residents who were in asleep, woke up with a panic after they felt tremors for a few seconds, ran out of their houses," said Suresh Kumar, a native of Pedabayalu mandal in ASR district. "Suspecting that the earthquake may strike again, some of the residents stayed at open places till 2 am on Sunday," he added.Tremors were also felt in Sunabeda, Semiliguda, Koraput town, Jeypore, Lamtaput, Boipariguda and adjoining areas in Koraput district. espite the midnight scare, officials confirmed there were no structural damages, injuries or casualties in either district.