A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Telangana’s Mulugu district on Wednesday morning, causing tremors to be felt in Hyderabad and surrounding regions of Andhra Pradesh. The quake hit at 7:27 AM, with its epicenter located at latitude 18.44 N and longitude 80.24 E, at a depth of 40 km. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the event, which caused panic but no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
The earthquake’s tremors were also experienced in parts of Maharashtra, particularly in Nagpur, Gadchiroli, and Chandrapur districts. In Nagpur, residents reported light shaking, while Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, situated close to Telangana, experienced mild tremors. In response, Chandrapur officials advised residents to stay vigilant and move to open spaces in case of further tremors.
Telangana is located in Seismic Zone II, a region of low seismic activity. However, the 5.3-magnitude tremor is considered significant for the area, which rarely experiences strong earthquakes. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light tremors are typically felt 200 to 300 km from the epicenter. The event is notable as it marks the strongest earthquake in Telangana in the last 20 years, according to a local weather enthusiast, "Telangana Weatherman."
For the first time in last 20years, one of the strongest earthquake occured in Telangana with 5.3 magnitude earthquake at Mulugu as epicentre.
— Telangana Weatherman (@balaji25_t) December 4, 2024
Entire Telangana including Hyderabad too felt the tremors. Once again earthquake at Godavari river bed, but a pretty strong one 😮 pic.twitter.com/RHyG3pkQyJ
While earthquakes are more common in higher seismic zones, such as Zones IV and V, Zone II—where Telangana is situated—has a relatively low risk. Despite this, around 59% of India’s landmass is prone to earthquakes, with varying intensities across different regions. In the wake of the tremor, experts have urged residents to stay alert and avoid crowded or unsafe structures.
This earthquake follows a series of seismic events in India, including a magnitude 2.9 quake in Assam's Karbi Anglong on November 30, and a 5.8-magnitude quake in Jammu and Kashmir on November 28. However, there were no reports of casualties or significant damage from these events either.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation in Telangana and neighboring states, assuring residents that they are taking necessary steps to assess and address any potential risks from the earthquake.
