Palghar: Four back-to-back earthquake tremors struck Jawhar taluka in Palghar district on Monday night, triggering panic among residents and prompting several people to spend hours outside their homes.A 3.2-magnitude tremor was recorded at 10.04pm, with its preliminary epicentre reported near Dengachimet. The tremor caused vibrations in houses, prompting several residents to rush outdoors.At 11pm, another, stronger tremor measuring 3.4 magnitude was felt in the area. Its preliminary epicentre was reported near the Shri Jagdamba Mata temple in Hade village, close to Dengachimet. Residents said the second tremor intensified fears as ground vibrations continued for some time.Two more tremors were reportedly felt at 11.39pm and 12.05am, prompting several residents to remain outdoors for hours after midnight, fearing further shocks.No casualties or major damage have been reported so far.The district administration has alerted the agencies concerned and is monitoring the situation. An awareness campaign is also expected to be launched in Jawhar to allay residents’ fears and educate them about precautions during earthquakes.The nearby Saputara region also reported four tremors on Monday. Tremors measuring 2.9, 2.7, 2.0 and 2.8 magnitude were recorded between 7.53am and 9.38pm in areas around Shinde and Rahude villages.The district disaster management department has taken note of the tremors and is keeping a close watch on the situation.On Tuesday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the administration to undertake a comprehensive assessment of seismic activity in Nashik and Palghar districts and intensify awareness campaigns among people, especially students.An earthquake of 4.3 magnitude struck Nashik on Saturday night, followed by a tremor of 3.3 magnitude on Sunday morning, at a depth of 5 km in the Bhanwad area, close to the Hatgad mountain range near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, as per officials.Fadnavis, during a discussion in the state cabinet meeting, said a study by the Centre for Seismic Technology was already underway, but directed the authorities to rope in additional reputed institutions to conduct a more comprehensive assessment of the situation. He also stressed the need to create greater awareness among residents about earthquakes and appropriate safety measures, sources said.The chief minister specifically directed that awareness programmes should also be conducted among students to ensure they are equipped to respond appropriately during seismic events.(With PTI inputs)
