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Mild Earthquake Sparks Panic in Madhya Pradesh's Betul and Pandhurna

A mild earthquake measuring 3.91 on the Richter scale struck parts of Madhya Pradesh, including Betul, Pandhurna, and Multai, on Saturday night. Multiple tremors were felt between 9:30 p.m. and 10:17 p.m., with a more intense one at 11:24 p.m. accompanied by a loud boom. Terrified residents fled their homes to open grounds, and social media was flooded with videos of vibrating households. No major damage has been reported so far.

Key Points: MP Earthquake: Tremors Cause Panic in Betul, Pandhurna

  • Earthquake of 3.91 magnitude hits MP's Betul, Pandhurna, and Multai
  • Multiple tremors felt at 9:30 p.m., 9:41 p.m., 9:43 p.m., and 10:17 p.m.
  • Intense tremor at 11:24 p.m. triggered panic
  • Residents fled homes, social media flooded with videos
2 min read

Madhya Pradesh: Mild earthquake sparks panic in Betul, Pandhurna

Mild earthquake of 3.91 magnitude sparks panic in Betul, Pandhurna, and Multai in Madhya Pradesh. Residents flee homes after loud boom and tremors.

"the walls of houses vibrated, and household items rattled on shelves for several consecutive seconds - Locals"

Bhopal/Betul, May 17 A series of sudden seismic disturbances accompanied by a mysterious loud sound sent waves of panic across multiple towns in Madhya Pradesh, officials said.

According to initial reports from National Center for Seismology, an earthquake measuring 3.91 on the Richter scale was felt across a widespread region, including the Betul, Pandhurna, and Multai areas at around 9:30 p.m., 9:41 p.m., 9:43 p.m. and 10:17 p.m. on Saturday.

While the initial tremors put residents on alert, a second, more intense disruption later in the night triggered absolute chaos within the local communities.

The situation escalated dramatically around 11:24 p.m. when certain parts of the region experienced a sudden and intense tremor.

According to eyewitnesses, the event began with an unsettling and incredibly loud boom that echoed through the night air.

Immediately after the sound, the earth began to shake violently.

The impact of the tremor was severe enough that the walls of houses vibrated, and household items rattled on shelves for several consecutive seconds, locals said.

Fearing an impending natural calamity or structural collapse, terrified residents who were still awake, as well as those jolted from their sleep, immediately fled their homes to seek safety in open grounds.

The suddenness of the tremors left the population visibly shaken.

Almost instantly, a massive flurry of phone calls ensued as anxious citizens reached out to family members, friends, and neighbours to check on one another's safety and ascertain the extent of the damage.

Residents living in the central parts of the town reported that the sequence of events was identical, with a thunderous noise preceding the physical shaking of the ground.

Within minutes of the event, news reports and personal accounts detailing the earthquake in Multai flooded various social media platforms, with citizens sharing videos of households vibrating.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
This is third time in a month that we're hearing about small earthquakes in MP. Is the Narmada fault line becoming active? Our elders always said Narmada valley is sensitive geologically. Hope the government puts seismometers in more places, not just rely on national center data. Anyway, please ensure all houses in rural areas are checked for cracks - kaccha houses take more damage.
S
Sneha F
🤗 Terrifying experience! I was video calling my mother in Betul when suddenly the camera started shaking and she screamed. For a solid 10 seconds I could hear things falling off shelves through the phone. Thank God she was awake. These mild quakes are a reminder to have emergency kits ready - torch, water, documents. Also, please check if your area has open spaces for evacuation. 😰
R
Rohan X
Why is no one talking about the sonic boom? In 2023, Gujarat also had similar sounds before earthquakes. Some say it's due to tectonic plate movement, others say it's mysterious. Honestly, the way people panic and start running makes it more dangerous. We need awareness campaigns in villages - drop, cover, hold on - instead of just running madly. Still, good that no casualties this time. 🙏
V
Varun X
Earthquake AND loud boom? Sounds like the plot of a disaster movie! But in all seriousness, I hope the district administration quickly assesses damage. Old buildings in Pandhurna might have developed cracks. Also, people with heart conditions were especially at risk due to sudden panic. Let's also appreciate how neighbours called each other to check - that's our desi community spirit. ❤️
K
Kavya N

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