Tremors felt in coastal Orissa after Andaman quake

BHUBANESWAR - Tremors were experienced in parts of coastal Orissa Sunday morning, causing some amount panic among residents following an earthquake in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

People living in high-rise buildings and apartments rushed out of their homes in Bhubaneswar and nearby Cuttack city.

“Our bed, tables and furniture shook,” said Sudhakar Mohanty, a businessman who lives in an apartment here.

Although the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre did not say anything, several people in Khordha and Cuttack districts said they also felt the tremors for a few seconds.

“We are gathering information,” Bhubaneswar meteorological centre director S.C. Sahu told IANS.

No casualty or damage was reported, an official of the state revenue control room said.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale struck the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 00.56 a.m. with epicentre at 160 km west of Nicobar Islands at a depth of 35 km.