Powerful earthquake causes wall collapses, cracks in homes across southern India
by Ekta ChaubeyA 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck southern India, causing visible cracks in houses, wall collapses, and panic among residents, though there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The earthquake occurred at 7:27 AM IST in Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana on December 4.
Visuals show visible cracks in walls and houses, while CCTV footage shakes for 6 to 10 seconds. Notably, a woman was seen fearlessly cleaning the road during the tremor.
According to reports, local authorities stated no significant damage. Mulugu Superintendent of Police Shabarish stated, “Our police teams are patrolling and assessing the situation, but there have been no reports of damage so far.”
District Forest Officer Rahul Jadhav explained that the tremor lasted only 6 to 10 seconds and the epicenter was about 7 kilometers away from an area that had already experienced tree falls due to heavy rains. The Bhookamp app recorded the earthquake’s depth at 40 kilometers. The tremor was felt across several districts in Andhra Pradesh, including NTR, Krishna, and Eluru. Residents in Tiruvuru, Jaggayyapeta, Nandigama, and Vijayawada city reported feeling brief but noticeable shaking.
This event marks the first significant earthquake in the region in over 20 years, underscoring the rarity of seismic activity in Andhra Pradesh.