EVEN as mysterious blasts and tremors continue to rock villages in Lalpur and Jamnagar talukas, the IMD team camping in the region has not been able to draw any conclusion. Declaring that the blasts are not related to seismic activity, the IMD team said that from now on geologists should observe the disturbances.
Senior IMD team member K C Kondal said, ‘‘Our observation suggests that the blast and jerks experienced in the region are not related to any earthquake.’’ Elaborating further, Kondal said, ‘‘An earthquake produces waves from which its epicentre and intensity can be measured. But here, the phenomenon is localised and superficial. Jerks observed here are limited to small areas and often not recorded.’’
Most of these shocks are in the range of 1 to 1.5 intensity on the Richter scale. Though they have subsided in some villages, they continue in Jamnagar taluka, said the official.
‘‘Records on seismic activities are being sent to New Delhi on a daily basis, but even that hasn’t helped in drawing a conclusion,’’ said Kondal. He added, ‘‘I think that now this study should be handed over to geologists. The Geological Survey of India should be contacted in this regard.’’
He dismissed some media reports which suggested that it is a hydrological phenomenon following excessive rain in the region. ‘‘We have not reached any conclusion so far, but it’s not a hydrological phenomenon,’’ said Kondal.
According to Kondal, two years ago, a similar phenomenon had been observed in Khandbahu region of Madhya Pradesh for six months.
In Khandbahu, a large quantum of limestone had been found beneath the surface and a chemical reaction with water had caused tremors accompanied by blast-like sounds. But no one is sure whether the cause is same in Jamnagar district.
Mild tremors accompanied by blast-like sounds have been rocking 15 villages of the district, with Lothia being the most-affected, where 20 such blasts have occurred in the past one month. A two-member IMD team comprising of K C Kondal and H P Verma, who have been camping in the district since August 23, have set up seismology equipment to record the intensity of these tremors.
Meanwhile, people continue to spend the nights outside their houses, especially in Lothia, Chandergarh and Kojaberaja villages, where the maximum number of tremors have been felt.
Many have shifted to tents installed by the Collector’s office.