Saurashtra aftershock count reaches 57

Junagadh experienced as many as 57 aftershocks till Saturday following the 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the district on October 20. Effects of the quake were felt across the state on Thursday. Meanwhile, seismologists said that the seismic activity in the area is settling down even as a minor earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale was registered in the region 3 km North East from Bhachau in Kutch district.

Seismologist said this was part of the many aftershocks of the 2001 earthquake. Senior scientists at Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), Gandhinagar, are monitoring the seismic activity in Sasan in Junagadh and Kutch. Talking about the developments one of the scientists said, "Our team is working in Sasan as part of the investigations. We have installed four instruments within 20 km area of the epicentre."  He further said aftershocks of very low magnitude are occurring as the seismic activity in the area is decaying.

"So in order to register even the minute activity, we have installed such instruments close to the epicentre." Commenting on the Kutch earthquake, the scientist said, "It is nothing but an aftershock of the 2001 earthquake. Several such aftershocks have occurred in the same area earlier too," he said.

On the other hand the Junagadh district administration has begun a survey of affected villages. Junagadh district collector AM Parmar said, "We have started the survey in affected areas. This is likely to be over in the next 4 to 5 days. Many people whose houses were damaged are living in their farms.”