Vikarabad: Residents of Vikarabad district were startled early Thursday morning as a brief earthquake struck the Parigi and surrounding areas around 4 a.m. The tremors, lasting a few seconds, were also felt in Rangapur, Basinapalli, and Nyamatnagar, prompting locals to rush out of their homes. People reportedly remained outdoors for nearly two hours fearing additional shocks. Officials have yet to release the quake’s exact intensity and details.
Telangana has experienced occasional seismic activity in the past. A 2.5-magnitude quake was recorded in Vikarabad in February 2024, while in September 2021, Tor Mamidi village in Bantwaram felt tremors lasting approximately 40 seconds. In December last year, Mulugu district witnessed a 5.3-magnitude earthquake, the largest in Telangana in the past five decades, affecting parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Experts cite movements along subsurface fault lines as the primary cause of these quakes. Tremors below magnitude 4 on the Richter scale are generally considered minor.
IMD Warns of Heavy Rainfall Across Telangana
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Telangana on August 15 and 16, driven by a low-pressure system over the western-central Bay of Bengal. Districts under alert include Adilabad, Hanumakonda, Hyderabad, Jangaon, Kamareddy, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mahbubabad, Mancherial, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Siddipet, and Warangal. Red and orange alerts have been issued, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy instructing officials to remain vigilant. The irrigation department has been directed to monitor projects, reservoirs, and canals. Some schools have been closed, and contingency measures are in place to address potential power disruptions. Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution amid ongoing waterlogging from recent rainfall.