Mild earthquake in Gujarat’s Patan District

PATAN - An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale hit the areas near Gujarat’s Patan District on Thursday.

There were, however, no casualties, but witnesses said the residents fled in panic from the areas, which witnessed the earthquake.

“Around 8:30 or 8:40 a.m., when I came to my shop I felt the tremors. I quickly came out of my shop and saw other people coming out of their houses. People were crying out,” said Jaiprakash Patel, a shop-owner.

The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Patan, V. G. Kalariya, said the Metrological Department confirmed the tremor.

“Around 8:39 a.m. a tremor was experienced in Gujarat’s Patan District. We got its confirmation from Indian Metrological Department and they informed us that it was 3.9 on the Richter scale and the epicentre was area near Patan,” said Kalaria.

Earlier in 2001, Gujarat’s Kutch District was hit by a powerful quake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale.

The quake killed at least 20,000 people, injured another 167,000 and destroyed nearly a million homes throughout Gujarat and eastern Pakistan. (ANI)