Mumbai, March 14
Panic spread in different parts of Mumbai after a minor earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale with its epicentre at Koyna, 300 km away, was felt in the city. The tremor lasted 30 seconds, according to the MET Department.
According to information available from the police and fire brigade officials, people ran of high-rise buildings in the Nariman Point area of South Mumbai. However, the situation returned to normal after there were no further tremors.
Officials said panic might have been caused as the buildings were designed to sway in the case of a quake as a protection measure. Such swaying helped dissipate the forces unleashed by the quake without causing any damage to buildings.
