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Quake's epicentre is near Bhuj, Gujarat

A Correspondent and Agencies

The country's tryst with destiny on Republic Day got off on a wrong note, with many regions - from Delhi in the north, to Bhuj and Bombay in the west to Madras and Pondicherry in the south -- experiencing tremors.

R R Kelkar, director general, of Indian Meteorological Department, said, "The earthquake measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale and it was 20 km north-east of Bhuj. Tremors were also felt in Delhi and Bombay on a minor scale when compared to Bhuj."

[The United States Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Centre, however, said a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 was computed for the quake.]

The epicentre of the quake was located at 23.6 latitude and 69.8 longitude, the IMD said.

Data recorded from the earthquake have been sent to their headquarters at Delhi to work out the epicentre and exact magnitude, IMD sources added.

Gujarat experienced one of its worst days, with reports of tremors coming in almost from all over the state. According to Balubhai Shah, a resident of Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, three people were killed and one person was injured in the earthquake. He also said a Jain Temple at Lavanya area was damaged completely. However, the police did not confirm this news. Most phone lines are dead in the capital city, leading to a communication breakdown.

The earthquake also shook Delhi and neighbouring areas an hour before the start of the Republic Day celebrations. But details of the epicentre and intensity were not immediately available on account of the holiday.

In Bombay, people ran on to the streets as buildings shuddered, lifts trembled, window panes rattled, and beds shook. FM Radio host, Vinod Advani, who was at the AIR studio at the time of the quake, fielded many phone calls from listeners anxious to know more about the quake.

When reports last came in, the police and the fire brigade were still assessing reports of casualties and damage. One report said most of the landlines in Gujarat were down following the quake. Reports of powerful jolts were also received from Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Dhoraji, Jamjodhpur and Gondal.

In south India, an earthquake of mild intensity was recorded in several areas in Madras and Pondicherry.

The tremor, experienced at about 0900 hrs, lasted for a couple of seconds and led to a minor disruption of Republic Day celebrations in Pondicherry, with people trying to leave the stadium.

The Madras police said residents of the bustling T Nagar area ran out of their houses, feeling the floor rattle.

In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, mild tremors were felt in Vijayawada city and surrounding areas.

However, there was no report of any damage due to tremors, which lasted for two to three seconds, police sources said.

In Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal and its neighbouring areas experienced mild tremors this morning.

No loss of life or property has been reported from anywhere, authorities said.

Reports of quake shocks have also come from Gwalior, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, Indore and many other parts of the state.

An earthquake of "moderate to great intensity" shook parts of eastern India, with mild tremors felt in and around Calcutta at around 8.50 am today, director of the regional meteorological office, R N Goldar, said. The quake measured above 7 on the Richter Scale was in the "moderate to great category," he said.

Further data is awaited from the regional locations to confirm the exact intensity and time of the quake, he added.

The Goa observatory too recorded a tremor, with observatory chief S R Bajpai, confirmed the intensity of the tremor as 6.9 on the Richter Scale, between 23.6 degrees north to 69.8 degrees east.

The tremor was felt for thirty seconds, especially in multi-storeyed buildings.

No reports of any damage have been received so far, police sources added.

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