Tremors were felt in several districts of Jharkhand after an earthquake with epicentre in neighbouring West Bengal’s Bankura hit eastern India on Sunday morning.
The mild tremors were felt in parts of Ranchi, Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamtara, Bagodar and Dumka at around 10.39am after the earthquake measuring 4.8 on Richter scale hit the neighbouring state.
Earlier in the day, an earthquake of a magnitude of 4.5 on Richter scale hit Andaman & Nicobar Islands at 7.49am. This too caused mild tremors in some parts of Jharkhand.
The epicentre of the second tremor was 10 km below the surface of Earth at latitude 23.3 degrees north and longitude 86.9 degrees east, officials from the Meteorological Department of India said.
Residents moved out of their houses in parts of Giridih and Dhanbad during the second earthquake. However, no loss of property or life was reported from any part of the state. MET officials said that the tremors were too mild to cause any damage to life or property.
According to the MET department, maximum effect of the earthquake was felt in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad and Jamtara, the districts nearest to the epicentre.
Meanwhile, the weather department on Sunday issued heat wave alerts for districts in northwest Jharkhand, including Daltonganj, Garhwa, Latehar and Chatra, for next 48 hours.
Director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre, SD Kotal said maximum temperature was 3 to4 degrees Celsius higher than the normal temperature across Jharkhand on Sunday.
"The weather will remain hot and humid for the next three days. Minor fluctuation in temperature is expected from Wednesday evening due to incursion of moisture from the Bay of Bengal,” said Kotal.
Around eight people have reportedly died so far allegedly due to heat in Jharkhand. However, state disaster management department has no such record of deaths.
Daltonganj remained the hottest district of state at 43.2 degrees Celsius, while Chaibasa recorded 42 degree Celsius, four degree above the normal, on Sunday.
Ranchi's mercury remains over 40 degree Celsius since Friday. The city, on Sunday, recorded maximum temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius. "Relief from scorching heat in Ranchi is unlikely at least for next two to three days," Kotal said.
Jamshedpur sizzles at 41.2 degrees Celsius, while Bokaro recorded 39 degree Celsius on Sunday.
