Telangana experienced its most powerful earthquake in over five decades on Wednesday morning. A 5.3 magnitude quake struck the Mulugu district at 7:27 am, with the epicenter near Medaram, a tribal town renowned for the Samakka-Sarakka shrine. The area falls within the Godavari rift zone, classified as Zone 3 for seismic activity.
Tremors Felt Across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra
The earthquake, recorded at a depth of 40 km, caused tremors lasting up to 10 seconds. Ripples were felt across several districts in Telangana, parts of Andhra Pradesh including Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, and Maharashtra. Residents panicked, rushing out of their homes as the tremors shook household items and caused minor structural damage.
Impact and Reports of Damage
Although no major damage was reported, there were isolated incidents:
- A house collapsed in Shankarajupalle village of Eturnagaram mandal.
- Cracks developed in walls in Khammam district and houses in Burgampahad, Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Mulugu district SP P. Shabarish confirmed that patrol teams found no significant damage.
Earthquake Footage Goes Viral
CCTV footage of the quake from Mulugu, the temple town of Bhadrachalam, and other affected areas quickly went viral. The tremors spanned a 250-km radius, impacting regions like Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Jangaon, and parts of Hyderabad including Gachibowli, Kukatpally, and Hayathnagar.
Seismologists Confirm Historical Significance
Prakash Kumar, director of CSIR-NGRI, confirmed the quake was centered in the Medaram region, a seismically active part of the Godavari rift zone.
“This is Telangana’s strongest earthquake since 1969, when a 5.7 magnitude quake hit Bhadrachalam. Such quakes usually recur after 50 years,” he said.
He added that the quake posed no significant threat to sturdy installations but could damage poorly built structures.
Godavari Rift Zone: A Seismically Active Region
The Godavari rift zone, covering parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, is prone to moderate earthquakes due to tectonic activity. Spanning 25,000 sq km, it has witnessed seismic events like the 4.8 magnitude earthquake near Ramagundam in April 2020.
Recent Natural Disturbances
Mulugu district forest officer Rahul Jadhav noted the epicenter was near an area in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, where thousands of trees had collapsed during heavy rains on August 31.
The Bhookamp app also recorded the earthquake at a 40 km depth, further confirming the activity.
A Wake-Up Call for Preparedness
Although Telangana rarely experiences such significant quakes, experts emphasized the importance of monitoring and preparedness in seismic zones.
