Major quake hits off Andamans, tremors felt in many cities

A high intensity earthquake today hit Andaman and Nicobar islands and shook many cities in southern and eastern India but there were no reports of any casualties.

The 7.8 magnitude quake on the Richter scale struck at 01:26 AM about 265 kms north of Port Blair, the Indian Meteorological Department said putting the tremor in the "great category".

Though the Pacific Tsunami Warning centre had issued a tsunami alert which was subsequently withdrawn, the Indian Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue any warning. Indian scientists were of the opinion that it was a normal fault and did not warrant any warning, secretary, ministry of Earth Sciences Shailesh Nayak said.

Tremors were felt in several places in Chennai, Vijaywada, several places in Orissa and in Kolkata.

In Chennai, residents of Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Besant Nagar and Nungambakkam areas felt the tremors and complaints of cracks in houses were also received from few places.

Several parts of Orissa including Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, port town of Paradip, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Bhadrak and Balasore were shaken by the tremor.

Panic-struck people rushed out of their houses in many areas. Mild tremors were also felt in Patamala Madhuranagar, Singhnagar, Pakayapuram and Vambay colony in Vijaywada.